Australian Foreign Minister Warns Aussie Jihadists Joining #ISIS in Iraq

Following-up from earlier, "Slick #ISIS Propaganda Video Recruits Western Youth: 'No Life Without Jihad...'"

Now at Australia's ABC News, "Number of Australians fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria 'extraordinary', Julie Bishop says." And at the Guardian UK, "Militant Australians join Sunnis in global conflicts, including Iraq: Bishop":

About 150 Australians are fighting with Sunni militants in conflicts around the world, and the government is particularly concerned about jihadists joining the Iraq conflict, the foreign affairs minister has revealed.  

Julie Bishop said her most recent intelligence briefing, on Thursday morning, estimated there to be about 150 Australians involved, most of them based in Syria. Her comments came as the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, would not rule out cancelling the citizenship of Australians who fought with the militant groups.

“It is extraordinary. There are about 150 Australians who have been or are still fighting with opposition groups in Syria and beyond. In Syria it seems that over a period of time they have moved from supporting the more moderate opposition groups to the more extreme and that includes this brutal extremist group, Isis [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant],” she told ABC Radio National, referring to the group that has taken northern and central parts of Iraq in recent weeks.

The director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio), David Irvine, told Senate estimates last month it was believed 10 to 12 Australians had died in the Syrian conflict.

Bishop said the jihadists posed a threat to Australia if they return, and the government was “deeply concerned” about Australians joining Isis.

“These are brutal people. The executions and the killings and their boasting of it on social media makes this a particularly virulent form of terrorism. And these people are so extreme that al-Qaida is even distancing itself from them,” she said.

Also, "Australian militants Abu Yahya ash Shami and Abu Nour al-Iraqi identified in ISIS recruitment video."

It's all over the Western world. Jihad is attracting criminals and bums from all over.

PREVIOUSLY: "Calgary Police Service Issues Warning on Canadian Muslims Joining #ISIS Jihad in Iraq."