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Australia Arrests Nurse Who Says He Worked With ISIS Under Duress Australia Arrests Nurse Who Says He Worked With ISIS Under Duress
(35 minutes later)
SYDNEY, Australia — A 39-year-old nurse from Melbourne who said he was forced to work with the Islamic State militant group in Syria was arrested upon returning to Australia, the authorities said Saturday. SYDNEY, Australia — A 39-year-old nurse from Melbourne who said he was forced to work with the Islamic State militant group in Syria was arrested upon returning to Australia, the authorities said Saturday.
The nurse, Adam Brookman, was arrested Friday night at Sydney’s international airport on a warrant related to what the authorities said was his involvement in the Syrian conflict, according to the Australian Federal Police. He surrendered to the authorities in Turkey on Tuesday, the police said in a statement. The statement did not identify Mr. Brookman by name, but his activities have been widely reported in the Australian news media.The nurse, Adam Brookman, was arrested Friday night at Sydney’s international airport on a warrant related to what the authorities said was his involvement in the Syrian conflict, according to the Australian Federal Police. He surrendered to the authorities in Turkey on Tuesday, the police said in a statement. The statement did not identify Mr. Brookman by name, but his activities have been widely reported in the Australian news media.
The police did not say what charges Mr. Brookman might face. But antiterrorism laws passed last year make it illegal for Australians to be in the Syrian city of Raqqa, a control center for the Islamic State, without a legitimate reason. A conviction is punishable by prison sentences of up to 10 years. Providing material support to a militant group like the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL, is punishable by harsher sentences.The police did not say what charges Mr. Brookman might face. But antiterrorism laws passed last year make it illegal for Australians to be in the Syrian city of Raqqa, a control center for the Islamic State, without a legitimate reason. A conviction is punishable by prison sentences of up to 10 years. Providing material support to a militant group like the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL, is punishable by harsher sentences.
Mr. Brookman, a convert to Islam, told The Sydney Morning Herald that he went to Syria to do humanitarian work, but that he was forced to work with the Islamic State after he was wounded in an airstrike and taken to a hospital controlled by the group. He said he never took up arms and focused on medical tasks; eventually, he said, he was able to escape and, later, to cross the border into Turkey.Mr. Brookman, a convert to Islam, told The Sydney Morning Herald that he went to Syria to do humanitarian work, but that he was forced to work with the Islamic State after he was wounded in an airstrike and taken to a hospital controlled by the group. He said he never took up arms and focused on medical tasks; eventually, he said, he was able to escape and, later, to cross the border into Turkey.
The Sydney Morning Herald, citing court documents, reported Saturday that Mr. Brookman was accused of working as a guard for the militant group. He was flown in police custody from Sydney to Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, where he was expected to appear in court on Monday, the newspaper said.The Sydney Morning Herald, citing court documents, reported Saturday that Mr. Brookman was accused of working as a guard for the militant group. He was flown in police custody from Sydney to Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, where he was expected to appear in court on Monday, the newspaper said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Thursday that 120 Australians were fighting on the side of extremists in Syria and Iraq, and that 160 other Australians actively supported extremist groups. He said that hundreds of people had been questioned about their travel plans and that the government had confiscated the passports of more than 100 Australians to stop them from joining the fighting.Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Thursday that 120 Australians were fighting on the side of extremists in Syria and Iraq, and that 160 other Australians actively supported extremist groups. He said that hundreds of people had been questioned about their travel plans and that the government had confiscated the passports of more than 100 Australians to stop them from joining the fighting.
“Australians have been consistently warned that by becoming involved in overseas conflict they are putting their own lives in mortal danger,” the federal police said in a separate statement. “If there is evidence an Australian has committed a criminal offense under Australia law while involved in the conflict in Syria and Iraq, they will be charged and put before the courts.”“Australians have been consistently warned that by becoming involved in overseas conflict they are putting their own lives in mortal danger,” the federal police said in a separate statement. “If there is evidence an Australian has committed a criminal offense under Australia law while involved in the conflict in Syria and Iraq, they will be charged and put before the courts.”
The government is preparing legislation that would allow it to prevent known terrorists who are dual citizens from returning to Australia by stripping them of their Australian citizenship.The government is preparing legislation that would allow it to prevent known terrorists who are dual citizens from returning to Australia by stripping them of their Australian citizenship.