Government's capacity to confirm Islamic State recruiters death 'limited'

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter Terrorism, Michael Keenan, has told SBS the Federal Government cannot confirm whether Australian terrorist Neil Prakash is alive or dead.

Alleged Australian Jihadist, Neil Prakash.

Alleged Australian Jihadist, Neil Prakash. Source: Supplied

Alleged Islamic State recruiter and former Melbourne man Neil Prakash is reportedly alive and well, despite the Federal Government announcing the terrorist's death in May. 

The New York Times has reported the Melbourne man was wounded in a US air strike in Iraq in April but survived. 

In a statement to SBS, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter Terrorism Michael Keenan said it was "longstanding practice" not to comment on matters of intelligence or law enforcement operations. 

"The Government reported Prakash’s death in May on the basis of advice from the US government that he had been killed in an air strike," Minister Keenan said. 

"The Government’s capacity to confirm reports of deaths in either Syria or Iraq is limited. These places are war zones, with many ungoverned spaces.

"There have been people who have been reported dead and are later found to be alive."

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1 min read

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By David Sharaz

Source: SBS World News



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