Australian ISIS Recruiter Urges Muslims In Australia To 'Attack'

An Australian senior member of ISIS with suspected links to foiled ANZAC Day plot has called on Muslim youths to carry out attacks in their home countries in a recently released propaganda video. Counter-terrorism officials said the 23-year-old Neil Prakash is believed to be the top Australian recruiter to for ISIS fighters.

Prakash, also known as Abu Khaled Al Cambodi, may have been in contact with the teens arrested in the anti-terror raids last April 18. Counter-terrorism authorities had managed to foil a terror plot supposed to be launched on ANZAC Day.

In the new ISIS video, Prakesh urged Muslims in Australia to “start attacking” before authorities can find them. “Now is the time to rise, now is the time to wake up,” said the senior ISIS member. The actual time when the video was recorded cannot be verified but it quickly spread overnight, reports Yahoo7 News.

Prakash, who left Melbourne to join ISIS, rose to the top of ISIS ranks after he travelled to Syria to fight. The Herald Sun reports that he attended the controversial Al-Furqan centre in Springvale South. It was the same centre where some of the teens arrested last weekend had come to pray.

The senior Australian ISIS member was seen carrying a rifle, praying with other soldiers and walking in parks in the video. Prakash had accused the media of portraying militants as “social outcasts.” He reminded Muslims of ISIS’ goals and urged the support of those who can pave the way towards establishing its caliphate.

Professor Greg Barton, a terrorism expert from Monash Univeristy, believes the video is more likely to be genuine and promotes his ascent in ISIS leadership as a recruiter. The professor said the video was targeted at disaffected youths in Austalia.

Meanwhile, a second individual was charged with attempting to launch a terror attack. Australian police said five young men were taken into custody in Melbourne. Two of the teens, who were arrested, would be released pending further inquiries.

Authorities said the suspects were plotting to launch an attack on ANZAC Day or on April 25 as Australia and New Zealand commemorate the centennial of the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I. Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton, said the suspects were acting by themselves and not as representatives of any religious or cultural group.

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