Pro-Palestine protests: AFP investigate 14 people for terror symbol displays at Melbourne protest

Three search warrants have been executed and 14 people are being investigated for allegedly displaying a terrorist symbol at pro-Palestinian protests in September.

Thousands of people rallied in Melbourne for a “National Day of Action for Gaza” after the assassination of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah during which the group’s flags were flown. Hezbollah is considered a terror organisation.

Australian Federal Police officers have trawled through 90 hours of CCTV and body camera footage and seized mobile phones and clothing depicting a terrorist symbol.

During a senate estimates hearing, the AFP confirmed 14 individuals were under investigation for “display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol in a public place”.

“If relevant thresholds are met, the AFP will provide briefs of evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to determine if charges will be laid,” AFP Acting Commissioner Ian McCartney said in a statement.

He confirmed that as well as three search warrants, a further three people had been spoken to by investigators over the symbols. A number of phones had been seized as well as an item of clothing depicting a terror symbol.

“I can reveal we are also investigating whether some discourse relating to deceased terrorists, or events in the Middle East, has reached the threshold of urging violence against groups or advocating terrorism,” Mr McCartney added..

A special taskforce, codenamed ARDVARNA, was set up for the rally specifically due to the volume of evidence and referrals that had to be assessed, AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said.

Police have spent some 1100 combined hours investigating.

There were 113 reports relating to the display of prohibited hate symbols between January and October 2024, which resulted in 49 further investigations by the joint counter-terrorism team.

Of these, 28 remain active but no one has been charged since the hate symbols legislation came into effect on January 8, Ms Barrett confirmed on Tuesday.

The laws criminalise glorifying and praising acts of terrorism.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said while people waving Hezbollah flags may indicate they follow a violent ideology, “it might just be the actions of a misdirected individual who doesn’t really know what they’re doing”.

Ten counter-terrorism operations have resulted in 15 people being charged in 2024, Mr McCartney said.

Of those charged, 11 were under the age of 18 and many were radicalised online, he said.