A lawyer for a 31-year-old man accused of possessing violent extremist material has questioned what evidence police have that he supports a terrorist organisation, as his bail application was heard in Melbourne.
Mohammad Emad Uddin Ahmadzai was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Saturday while trying to leave for Afghanistan. He faces charges of possessing violent extremist material and failing to provide access to electronic devices when requested.
Federal Police allege officers found material linked to Islamic State and another prescribed terrorist organisation on devices seized during an investigation into Ahmadzai.
Sergeant James Allison told Melbourne Magistrates Court that police raided the Roxburgh Park home Ahmadzai shared with his brother on May 7. Two phones, a tablet and a broomstick fitted with a screwdriver head were seized.
Ahmadzai’s brother allegedly provided the password to his phone, while Ahmadzai refused to allow officers access to his own phone and tablet. Police later obtained access to the phone, but did not analyse its contents until August 7, Sergeant Allison said.
The material was allegedly discovered after Ahmadzai had returned from a trip to Afghanistan. Border Force officers had also allegedly found a flag belonging to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, prompting police to examine the phone data.
Videos allegedly found on the device depicted a hostage being shot at close range, beheadings, throat cuttings, mass casualties, dead children in Gaza, and Islamic State flags and logos.
A second phone and a desktop computer wrapped in bubble wrap were also seized from Ahmadzai’s luggage, although Federal Police have not yet analysed them.
Sergeant Allison described the alleged material as “very offensive, very extreme” and “quite horrific”. He told the court: “It is a threat to the community if someone has that interest.”
Prosecutor Bridget Atkinson opposed bail, arguing the alleged offending went beyond a brief or casual interest in extremist ideology.
“The material was found on two phones over several months and are linked to two separate prescribed terror organisations,” she said.
Defence lawyer Siobhan Stary said it was unclear where the videos had been stored on Ahmadzai’s devices, apart from some material allegedly being received through WhatsApp.
She also questioned whether Ahmadzai had actively engaged with the content or expressed support for either organisation.
“There is no evidence, at this stage, that the material was either shared or possessed for the purposes of its ideological content,” Ms Stary told the court.
Magistrate Samantha Seoud is due to rule on Ahmadzai’s bail application on Thursday.
Adian Sarwari, Sulaiman Sarwari, Azan Syed and Ahmadzai’s brother, Mohammad Solaiman Salahuddin Ahmadzai, have also been charged with possessing violent extremist material.
