Up to 200 Australians fighting with terrorist groups in Syria

Bob Carr

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr says the government is aware of reports that Australians fighting against the Syrian regime could be linking up with terrorist groups in the war-torn country.

When asked if up to 200 Australians could be in Syria fighting against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, Senator Carr said the relevant government agencies were across the issue and taking it very seriously.

“There’s a big investment of time and resources going into it,” Senator Carr told Sky News on Sunday.

“It’s clearly a potential threat to Australia.”

He wouldn’t elaborate as it was a matter of security and intelligence, but said Syria had “without a doubt” become a magnet for jihadist groups across the globe.

One of the most active jihadist militant groups in Syria, the al-Nusrah Front, was placed on Australia’s terrorist blacklist last month.

Unknown before the uprising, the al-Nusrah Front has become the spearhead of the insurgency ahead of the mainstream rebel Free Syrian Army since mid-2012.

The Australian newspaper on Saturday reported ASIO was concerned at least 100 Australians fighting in Syria’s civil war could be doing so alongside the al-Nusrah Front.

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