CARLTON, VIC. — Carlton man Mohamed Bakit was charged yesterday by the Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) with being a member of a terrorist organisation and is accused of sharing thousands of extremist media files and ISIS propaganda.
Mohamed Bakit was arrested during a raid on a home in Carlton yesterday morning after authorities covertly monitored his activities for several years.
Addressing media on Wednesday, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said an investigation was launched after Australian Border Force officers found suspicious material on the man’s mobile phone following an examination of his luggage at Melbourne Airport before a trip to Egypt in November 2020.
A further search warrant was executed in 2024, with additional electronic devices seized.
Police allege a forensic analysis of Mr Bakit’s devices revealed he pledged allegiance to the terrorist group and acted as an online propagandist.
It is alleged he sent about 10,000 files of violent extremist material and IS propaganda between November 2015 and July 2020.
Among the material were “abhorrent” depictions of executions and torture, material intended to radicalise, and information about carrying out mass casualty attacks, AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Paula Hudson said.
The assistant commissioner said the scale of the material placed the man as a “principal distributor of ISIS propaganda within the group”.
“Terrorist propaganda is not harmless online content,” she said.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Crime and Counter Terrorism Investigation Services Martin O’Brien said the outcome should serve as a reminder that online extremist offending is actively monitored by law enforcement.
“Alongside our JCTT partners, the priority for Victoria Police is to ensure the safety of our community. It is an offence to access or share violent extremist material and authorities will act when these crimes are identified and hold offenders to account,” Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said.
Mr Bakit, an Australian citizen who lived with his wife, was charged with one count of membership of a terrorist organisation, three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence and one count of possessing or controlling violent extremist material.
The maximum penalty for these offences can include 10 years’ imprisonment.
Mr Bakit faced court briefly yesterday afternoon, where his lawyer Stephanie McLennan said he would be applying for bail today.
Details of the charges and allegations were not read out.
Outside court, Ms McLennan said: “He denies the charges”.
The priority for law enforcement is to ensure the safety of the community, and suspicious activity can be reported to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400; or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police recognise this information may be distressing for some people in the community, and support is available. Anyone feeling overwhelmed is encouraged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
