The return of Australians involved in the Syrian conflict is the most serious issue facing ASIO and police agencies in the immediate future, according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) counter terrorism expert, Associate Professor Nick O’Brien.

 

Professor O’Brien is Head of CSU’s Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security (AGSPS) and has a background in international and counter terrorism.

 

He said it is difficult, if not impossible, to know how many Australians have been fighting in the conflict in Syria.

 

“In August this year the Director General of ASIO, Mr David Irvine, stated that ‘more than one hundred individuals may have travelled from Australia to Syria in connection with the conflict’ while in October he commented that, ‘as many as six Australians may already have died in the fighting’,” Professor O’Brien said.

 

“It has also been reported that an Australian had carried out a suicide attack in Syria in September.

 

“Many of these Australian citizens will have been fighting with Al-Qaeda affiliated groups and will have received training in both weaponry and bomb-making.”

 

Professor O’Brien said the issue was significant for police and security agencies.

 

“Many Australians who trained with terrorist groups in Afghanistan or Pakistan were subsequently convicted of terrorist activity in Australia.” he said.

 

“Whilst it may be difficult to prove to the standard required by Australian courts that individuals have been fighting in Syria, agencies will have intelligence which indicates that they have been involved in the conflict.

 

“Conversely, some Australians may have travelled to Syria to assist in medical or humanitarian missions.”

 

“Calls for Australians who have been involved in fighting in Syria to be stripped of their citizenship are misplaced as individuals cannot be made stateless.

 

“However it may be possible to strip those who hold joint nationality of their Australian citizenship.”

 

Professor O’Brien said mass surveillance of those Australians who have returned from the Syrian conflict will be problematic due the resources required.

 

“It’s the issue which will cause sleepless nights for those charged with our protection, and it’s happening now”.