A Brisbane man has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment for preparing to travel into Syria to engage in hostile activities.
The man, 35, was sentenced yesterday (28 October, 2025) by the Queensland Supreme Court. He will serve a minimum non-parole period of four years and six months.
An investigation by the Queensland Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), involving the AFP, Queensland Police Services and ASIO, found that between July, 2016, and February, 2017, the man undertook a range of activities as part of planning to enter Syria and help fight to overthrow the government led by Bashar al-Assad.
This included lodging an application for an Australian passport and researching flights from Brisbane to Türkiye, where he planned to illegally cross the Turkish border into Syria.
In May and June, 2018, JCTT members executed search warrants at the man's residence in Kuraby, where several items consistent with engaging in preparations to travel to Syria and fight were found.
Police seized a USB which contained electronic copies of publications related to hostile activities, including books on guerrilla warfare, guides for manufacturing explosives, as well as several issues of a magazine produced by al-Qaeda.
Police also seized electronic devices with content related to extremism, martyrdom and jihad.
The man was arrested on 30 June, 2018, and charged with three counts of making preparations for incursions into foreign countries for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities, contrary to section 119.4 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
He entered a guilty plea on 30 May 2024.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said the AFP was committed to targeting violent extremism whether planned in Australia or abroad.
"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."
Queensland Police Service (QPS) Assistant Commissioner Charysse Pond said this was an example of partner agencies working together to keep the community safe.
"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," Assistant Commissioner 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."
