22yo Hallam woman faces terrorism charges

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A 22-year-old Hallam woman has faced court over allegedly supporting an Australian fighting with declared terrorist group Islamic State in Syria.

She was arrested by Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team officers at a Hallam residence on 25 February.

The woman faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later that day, charged with recruiting and associating with a terrorism organisation.

Police say that the woman formed an “online association” and supported an Australian male who was a member fighting for Islamic State in Syria 2015.

She was also alleged to have encouraged and tried to facilitate the travel of a person seeking to fight with IS in Syria and Iraq in 2016.

She was charged with performing services for a person intending to enter a foreign country and engaging in hostile activity, recruiting a person to take part in a terrorist organisation’s activities, and associating with a terrorist organisation.

All of those offences carry the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team comprises Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and Australian Security Intelligence Orgnaisation members.

Police say the investigation has not uncovered a current or impending threat to the community.

Any information to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.