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Australian Man Arrested for Funding US Terrorist

CBN

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Australian police arrested a 23-year-old man Tuesday for providing money to a U.S. citizen fighting with extremists in Syria.

Authorities say the Melbourne man, who has not been named, was not involved in planning an attack and there was no specific threat to the public.

Police believe he was operating alone and was planning to send more money to the terrorists in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said security agencies know of 100 people in Australia who are supporting terrorist groups overseas by recruiting or funding.

"I want to make it absolutely crystal clear, anyone who supports terrorists is complicit in the dreadful deeds they do, anyone who actively supports terrorists is putting Australian lives at risk because terrorist activity in the Middle East is now reaching back here to us in Australia," Abbott said.

Abbott also says they know of 60 Australian citizens who are now fighting with the terrorists in the Middle East.

Abbott said 20 million Australian dollars of the funds from the new spending on intelligence, law enforcement and border protection agencies will go specifically to the anti-money laundering agency AUSTRAC to help prevent funding to the terrorists.

"Anyone who supports terrorists is complicit in the dreadful deeds they do," he said.

Two weeks ago, police detained 16 people in counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and charged one with conspiring with an Islamic State leader in Syria to behead a random person.

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