Full Breakdown
Melbourne Man Charged with ISIS Propaganda Distribution
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Arrest and Charges
Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced that 65-year-old Mohamed Bakit, a Somali-born Australian citizen residing in Carlton, Melbourne, was arrested during a joint counter-terrorism raid on his home. He faces one count of membership in 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 the combined offences is ten years’ imprisonment. Bakit’s lawyer, Stephanie McLennan, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that he denies the charges and will apply for bail.
Background & Context – IS activity and Australian terrorism landscape
The Islamic State (IS) group, once controlling large swaths of Iraq and Syria, was largely driven from its territory by a 2019 United States-led military intervention. Although its territorial hold has collapsed, the group’s cells remain active and continue to inspire attacks abroad. Australian authorities note that a 2025 mass shooting at a Hanukkah event, which killed 15 people, was linked to IS-affiliated perpetrators. National security agencies estimate that roughly 200 Australians travelled to Syria or Iraq to join IS between 2012 and 2019, with dozens more providing logistical support or planning attacks on Australian soil.
Data & Statistics
- Files shared: Approximately 10,000 documents, images, videos, audio recordings and messages containing executions, torture and IS propaganda were allegedly transmitted by Bakit between November 2015 and July 2020.
- Online role: AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Paula Hudson described Bakit as a “principal distributor” of ISIS propaganda within an encrypted messaging platform used by a small network of Australian supporters.
- Broader involvement: Bakit is alleged to have participated in an online group chat that also included five other men arrested in Victoria since May 2022 on similar extremist-material charges.
- Travel history: Border officials intercepted Bakit’s luggage at Melbourne Airport in November 2020 before a six-month trip to Egypt; no evidence links him to any IS-controlled zones.
Official Statements & Responses
The AFP said forensic analysis of seized devices confirmed Bakit’s pledge of allegiance to IS between 2018 and 2020 and his distribution of extremist material intended to radicalise others. Police emphasized that Bakit was not linked to any specific terrorist attack and that there is “no threat to the community” at present, while also indicating that further arrests may follow as investigations continue with international partners.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The material glorified acts of violence and terrorism, spreading hateful ideology that is designed to radicalize others,” — Paula Hudson, acting assistant commissioner
- “Terrorist organisations like ISIS rely on online platforms to distribute propaganda and recruit supporters.” — Paula Hudson, acting assistant commissioner
- “The scale and dissemination [by] this man placed him as a principal distributor of ISIS propaganda within the group,” — Paula Hudson, acting assistant commissioner
What's Next – Legal proceedings
Bakit appeared briefly before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on the day of his arrest. His bail application is scheduled for the following day, and the court will consider his health conditions—including a prior stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular medication—when deciding whether to grant release pending trial. The AFP indicated that additional electronic devices seized in a 2024 search warrant may lead to further charges.