Australian Hajj pilgrims to be scrutinised, says report

Security agencies are reportedly set to investigate if any Muslims who recently left Australia for the Mecca pilgrimage have joined terror groups overseas.

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat, near Mecca

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat, near Mecca, to take part in one of the Hajj rituals on October 3, 2014.

About 5000 Muslims are believed to have left Australia last month for the annual Haji pilgrimage, which took place in early October.

Security agencies will launch an investigation next month to identify any Islamic extremists who may have left the country to fight for Islamic State and other terror groups in Syria, News Corp Australia reports.

Authorities won't know for several weeks whether Muslims who left for Mecca are taking holidays or are involved in something more sinister, a senior security source told News Corp.

Security agencies are reportedly set to investigate each Australian who departed the country with the intention of attending the Haji pilgrimage and who has not yet returned.

About 60 Australians are fighting with Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, with at least 100 others offering support and 70 who have had their passports cancelled on security grounds.


Share
1 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world