Terror suspects stopped at Aust airports

Counter-terror authorities have intercepted 11 terror suspects at Melbourne and Sydney airports in less than a month.

Melbourne airport
Authorities have intercepted 11 terror suspects at Melbourne and Sydney airports in less than a month.

News Corp Australia reports some of the suspects were carrying images of beheadings on electronic devices.

Multi-agency officers, including Customs and Border Protection, the Australian Federal Police or new Counter-Terrorism Units, also seized tens of thousands of dollars in undeclared cash.

The suspects were intercepted for a range of reasons, including being caught with violent material or luggage and visa inconsistencies.

Three devices were seized and other people were issued infringement notices, while one was denied entry to Australia.

Another 19-year-old man from NSW was deported by United Arab Emirates authorities after allegedly flying out of Sydney on his brother's passport.

The new Counter-Terrorism Units came into force in late August.

In addition to the 11 main intercepted suspects, a further six people were stopped and searched by authorities, missing their flights, between August 9 and September 1 at Melbourne and Sydney airports.

The news comes as Australian aircraft conduct their first combat mission over Iraq, though no bombs have been dropped.


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