Brisbane man jailed for six years after planning to help overthrow Syrian government
A 35-year-old man from Brisbane's south has been sentenced to six years in prison for preparing to travel to Syria and help overthrow the government.
He was sentenced to six years behind bars with a non-parole period of four years and six months yesterday in the Queensland Supreme Court.
A joint investigation conducted by the Queensland Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) found that between July 2016 and February 2017 the man undertook multiple activities attempting to enter Syria to help fight to overthrow the Bashar al-Assad-led government.
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The 35-year-old was planning to help overthrow the Bashar al-Assad government. SANA
This included lodging an Australian passport application and researching flights from Brisbane to Türkiye, where he planned to cross the Turkish border illegally and enter Syria.
In May and June 2018, a search warrant was executed at the man's Kuraby home, where several items that were consistent with preparations to fight in Syria were found.
The items included a USB containing electronic copies of publications related to hostile activities, including books on guerrilla warfare, guides for building explosives, as well as multiple issues of a magazine produced by al-Qaeda.
Devices with content related to extremism, martyrdom and jihad were also seized.
On June 30, 2018, the man was arrested and charged with three counts of making preparations for incursions into foreign countries for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities.
He entered a guilty plea on May 30, 2024.
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The man was planning to illegally enter Syria from Turkey. AP
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said the AFP were targeting violent extremism, whether it was planned to happen in Australia or overseas.
"The AFP holds a great focus on protecting Australia and Australians from acts of domestic terrorism, but we are also watchful of people here at home who wish to engage in violent activity on foreign soil," Assistant Commissioner Nutt said.
"We denounce violence in all its forms, and our investigators pursue matters tenaciously to ensure people who wish to commit acts of violent extremism here or overseas are put before the courts."
"I'd like to acknowledge the thorough work undertaken by all of the officers involved to gather and analyse the available evidence in this matter and bring criminal charges," Queensland Police Service Assistant Commissioner Charysse Pond said.
"This result is a credit to the hard work and commitment of the Queensland Joint Counter Terrorism Team to keeping the community safe."
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