New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has stated that police will actively monitor any individuals with links to Islamic State who return to the state, but will not preempt arrests. Speaking to Sky News on Monday morning, Lanyon addressed the imminent return of several women and children associated with Islamic State fighters, with one woman and her child expected to settle in Sydney.
Safety Assurance and Operational Secrecy
Lanyon emphasized that his primary responsibility is ensuring the safety of the NSW community. He noted that individuals returning from declared areas or with ties to terrorist organizations would be under active surveillance. However, he declined to specify who might face arrest upon arrival, citing operational reasons.
“My responsibility is to make sure the community of NSW is safe. So obviously with people returning from declared areas, people who have been associated with terrorist organisations, we will actively monitor those people if they return to NSW. For operational reasons, I won’t go into who may be arrested but obviously we’re working very closely with commonwealth authorities,” Lanyon said.
The Australian Federal Police indicated on Sunday that a number of individuals would be arrested upon landing, with further details to be released when appropriate. Lanyon reiterated this stance, stating, “Again, for operational reasons, I don’t want to go into specifically who will be arrested.”
Background on Returnees
This development follows reports that two Australian states are preparing to resettle children from a Syrian detention camp, with the majority bound for Melbourne. The return of women and children linked to Islamic State fighters has sparked public debate about security measures and rehabilitation efforts.
