Young people involved in one-fifth of Australian terrorism cases, intelligence chief says
One in five priority counter-terrorism cases investigated by Australia involved youth, the country’s spy chief said on Friday, as the “Five Eyes” intelligence partners warned about the radicalization of young “digital natives.”
Mental health, education and social services needed to intervene in many cases before the behavior of minors became a police issue, said a research paper by the Five Eyes, which also include the U.S., Canada, Britain and New Zealand.
“Around 20% of ASIO’s priority counter-terrorism cases involve young people. In every one of the terrorist attacks, disruptions and suspected terrorist incidents in Australia this year, the alleged perpetrator was a young person,” Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess said in a statement.