Australian with suspected Islamic State links deported from India
An Australian national has been deported from India because authorities suspected he was a supporter of Islamic State.
Key points:
- Malay-Australian youth deported from New Delhi, India
- Authorities acting on tip-off found Islamic State propaganda on his laptop
- Laptop also contained photos of youth posing with firearms, local media says
- Australian Government aware of his departure
The ABC has confirmed a report in the Indian Express that the Malay-Australian youth was deported after being detained for questioning at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday night.
The paper reported that he had arrived on a flight from Perth and authorities acting on a tip-off questioned him and found jihadi literature, including Islamic State propaganda, on his laptop.
Australian Government sources have told the ABC that they were aware of his departure but did not have sufficient evidence to stop him. They did not say when he was expected to arrive back in Australia.
A police source has confirmed the deportation with the ABC.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Sunday the Government was investigating.
"Due to intelligence and security considerations I won't be commenting further. Our relative agencies are investigating this matter very closely," she said.
The Indian Express reported that local authorities said photos of the youth posing with firearms were also found on his laptop.
"When he was questioned about the purpose of his visit to India, Awang said he had to attend a meeting in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, but was evasive in his replies," sources told the paper. He had managed to secure a valid visa.
"However, after scouring through the contents of his laptop, a call was taken that it was too dangerous to allow him to enter India, and he was sent back to Perth."
The paper reported that among the photos found by security agencies was one of the youth bare-chested and brandishing an assault rifle. Another showed him sitting with a pistol on his lap.
His deportation comes amid a nationwide crackdown on Islamic State supporters.
Fifteen youths have been held from various cities for allegedly forming a local Islamic State-affiliate, called the Junood-Al-Khilafa-e-Hind, and planning terror attacks.