Five Australian men arrested over alleged plan to join Islamic State

Notorious Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio is among five men arrested in Cairns over an alleged plan to take a small boat to Indonesia and join the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

Shayden Thorne, the brother of another hardline Islamist, Junaid Thorne, was also arrested.

Police arrested the men yesterday as they were towing a boat towards Cape York, in far north Queensland.

They are being held on suspicion of foreign incursion offences.

An Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesperson confirmed five men had been arrested but gave few details.

"The Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police can confirm they conducted operational activity in relation to an ongoing investigation in the north of Queensland [on Tuesday]," it said.

"Five men have been arrested and are currently assisting police with enquiries.

"This activity is not related to a current or impending threat to the community.

"As this activity remains ongoing, further comment will be provided when it is appropriate to do so."

Author: 
ABC Australia