Qld police keeping tabs on fighters

Queensland police are closely monitoring a number of people who have fought in conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart says a number of Queenslanders are on the force's anti-terrorism radar.

However, police have declined to reveal how many are being watched.

Mr Stewart says a handful of former Islamic State fighters are among those under scrutiny from intelligence agencies.

"Obviously you don't go off fighting in foreign lands not as a member of the Australian Defence Force and come back and think you are not going to be on our radar," he told The Courier Mail.

"And that's because of the experiences that they have, and the skill set that they pick up by being involved in fighting elsewhere."

He said authorities were on the "highest state of alert" for terrorism than they have been since World War II.