Melbourne man arrested over alleged ISIS propaganda role
Counter-terrorism police in Australia have arrested a 65-year-old Melbourne man in Carlton, alleging he played a significant role in spreading propaganda for ISIS. The arrest took place during a raid on a home on Wednesday morning, with police later outlining the case at a media briefing shortly after midday. Investigators allege the man pledged allegiance to the group and acted as an online propagandist.
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The Australian Federal Police said the man is expected to face charges including membership of a terrorist organisation, possessing and controlling violent extremist material, and using a carriage service to cause offence. Police allege he sent about 10,000 files of violent extremist material and ISIS propaganda. Acting Assistant Commissioner Paula Hudson said the investigation began after Australian Border Force officers found suspicious material on electronic devices seized as the man flew out of Melbourne.
Police said devices were later seized and an initial review showed the man allegedly viewed and shared ISIS material. Hudson said the scale of the material placed him as a principal distributor of ISIS propaganda within the group. She also said the material glorified violence and terrorism and was designed to radicalise others.
The case is significant because it centres on alleged online support activity rather than a physical attack, but one that police say helped spread extremist ideology at scale. In Australia, counter-terrorism agencies have increasingly focused on the circulation of extremist content, including material that can be used to encourage or facilitate radicalisation. The allegations also come against the backdrop of continued concern about how terrorist groups use digital platforms and personal devices to move propaganda across borders.
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The investigation appears to have developed from border-related screening, then expanded into a police operation after the devices were examined. That sequence suggests coordination between border officials and counter-terrorism investigators, with the alleged material forming the basis for the arrest and expected charges. The Carlton raid and the public statement by the AFP indicate the matter has now moved into a formal criminal process.
It remains unclear how long the alleged activity continued, whether any other people are being investigated, and what specific devices or accounts were involved. Police have not said when the man will appear in court or whether further charges may follow. The next developments will likely focus on the filing of charges, any court hearing, and whether investigators identify wider links to extremist networks or online distribution channels.
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