Australia expects arrival of ISIS-linked women and children from Syria
Thirteen women and children linked to Islamic State fighters are expected to arrive in Australia on Thursday evening, with flights landing in Sydney and Melbourne.
The group had spent years in Syria's Al Roj camp before travelling via Damascus and Doha.
The federal government confirmed on Wednesday that the four women and nine children had booked flights to Australia.
They are all Australian citizens and hold Australian passports.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has warned that some individuals may be arrested and face charges, including terrorism offences and crimes against humanity such as slave trading.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said one woman and one child were scheduled to arrive in New South Wales, and said police were working closely with the AFP.
The arrival matters because it brings a long-running repatriation case back into the domestic security spotlight.
It also raises the prospect of criminal investigations alongside welfare and child-protection arrangements for the children involved.
According to the details provided, the group left the Al Roj camp in north-eastern Syria two weeks ago and travelled to Damascus before connecting through Doha.
Some of the women were seen boarding onward flights there.
Among those named are 54-year-old grandmother Kawsar Abbas, her daughters Zahra Ahmed, 33, and Zeinab Ahmed, 31, and a former health science student, Janai Safar, 32.
The children were born in Syria and had never visited Australia.
