Australia has prevented a third teenager from flying out to fight in the Middle East, a minister said today, as Western countries battle to stop the flow of youngsters to jihadist groups.
The 17-year-old boy was taken off a plane at Sydney airport on March 12 after being interviewed by counter-terrorism officers, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told reporters.
He has since been returned to his family while investigations continue.
The cases came after three British schoolgirls left their London homes to join Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria in February, which sparked accusations that authorities had failed to warn families their children risked being radicalised.
"The point of all this is there is a significant and growing threat at our airports and our borders," Dutton said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott underlined that no effort would be spared to prevent people joining groups such as IS in Iraq and Syria.
"It is absolutely critical that the people of Australia appreciate that the death cult (IS) is reaching out to vulnerable and impressionable young people.
According to the government, about 100 Australians are fighting with IS and other jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq, with another 150 supporting them at home.
Some 170 Australian special forces are already in Iraq helping to train government troops.
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