Authorities from Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S. have called for “a whole-of-society response” to the radicalisation of young people.
In a new report, the countries’ intelligence and law enforcement agencies flagged a rise in young people with “varying ideological affiliations” involved in counter-terrorism cases.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the counter-terrorism unit had investigated 35 under-18s since 2020, including one 12-year-old.
Five Eyes
Five Eyes is an intelligence-sharing alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the U.S.
This month, it released a report into the online radicalisation of children.
It said: “Our nations have seen a rising prominence of young people and minors in counter-terrorism cases over the last few years. Many of those who are investigated as minors are also investigated into adulthood due to their violent extremist ideology.”
Australia
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is Australia’s Five Eyes representative.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said: “Around 20% of ASIO’s priority counter-terrorism cases involve young people.
“In every one of the terrorist attacks, disruptions and suspected terrorist incidents in Australia this year, the alleged perpetrator was a young person.”
Recommendations
The Five Eyes report said: “Law enforcement and security agencies cannot address this issue alone.”
It said the agencies plan to work with schools, the healthcare sector, tech companies, and governments.
Burgess said that identification of radicalisation needed to be early, because “once ASIO and the AFP get involved, it is usually too late”.
AFP
The commitment to stop the radicalisation of young people comes a year after a Victorian magistrate decided to stop terrorism proceedings against a child brought by the AFP and state police.
The magistrate found that a counter-terrorism unit had encouraged an Autistic 13-year-old boy to engage with extremist material. He was then charged with terrorism when he turned 14 (Victoria’s age of criminal responsibility).
The AFP told a Senate committee earlier this year it was reviewing “circumstances in relation to the case”.
