6th Australian charged in boat terror plot

MELBOURNE, Australia (AA) – Australian police arrested Friday a sixth suspect over an alleged plot to sail a small boat to Indonesia in an attempt to reach Syria to join Daesh.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed in a statement that the man was taken into custody following a morning raid on a home in northwest Melbourne.

“A man has been arrested, and is currently assisting police with inquiries,” The Australian news website quoted the statement as saying.

“As this activity remains ongoing, it is not appropriate to provide further comment,” it said, reassuring that there was no “current or impending threat to the community”.

News broadcaster ABC reported that the arrest of Murat Kaya, 25, was conducted in relation to a case in which five other men were placed in custody earlier this month after they reportedly drove from Melbourne to Cairns in the far north while towing a boat.

They were later extradited to Melbourne where they appeared at court last week, but did not apply for bail and are due to face court on Sept. 22.

The latest suspect was charged Friday on suspicion of “preparations for incursions into a foreign country to engage in hostile activities” and also did not apply for bail, the ABC reported.

According to police, he is accused of buying a vehicle, a boat and a trailer with the aim of traveling to northern Queensland and leaving Australia by boat in an attempt to arrive in Syria.

Australia has been engaged in efforts to increase anti-terror measures in recent years.

The country passed legislation in December to strip dual nationals of their citizenship if they are convicted or suspected of terrorism offences.

It has already banned its citizens from traveling to Mosul and Syria’s Raqqa province -- unless they have a “legitimate purpose” for being there.