SYDNEY: Several members of a group of 13 Australian women and children linked to alleged Islamic State jihadists will be arrested when they return home from Syria, police said Wednesday.
The group of four women and nine children who had been living in a camp in Syria made bookings to return to Australia, home affairs minister Tony Burke confirmed.
Australia has repeatedly said it will not assist the repatriation of Australians in Syria who are related to alleged members of the Islamic State group.
Police said they collected evidence in Syria as they investigated whether Australians had committed crimes under Australian law, including travelling to a prohibited area and engaging in slave trade.
“Some individuals will be arrested and charged,” Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett told a news conference.