Neil Prakash
Neil Prakash, known as Abu Khaled al-Cambodi, is an Australian man and senior member in the Islamic State
History
He was born in Melbourne, Australia to a Fijian father and a Cambodian mother. His father left when he was young and his mother was mentally ill. He was an only child.[1]
Prakash converted from Buddhism to Islam in August 2012 after a visit to Cambodia, when he was repulsed by what he viewed as Buddhism’s commercialism and idolatry. He attended meetings at Al-Furqan bookstore and prayer centre in Melbourne.[2]
Islamic State
He traveled to Syria via Malaysia in 2013, arriving in the city of Raqqa.
Arrest warrant
His passport was cancelled October 2014. On August 19, 2015 police obtained a warrant for his arrest. He was accused of being a member of a terrorist organisation and of incursions into a foreign state with the intention of engaging in hostile activities.[3]
Reports of death
On 5 May 2016, Attorney-General George Brandis said US officials had confirmed Neil Prakash was killed in Mosul.[4]
But later news reports said police and intelligence agencies believe he may still be alive.[5][6]
On 28th July 2016, the United States said four civilians had been killed in a strike targeting Prakash on 29 April 2016.[7]
References
- ^ "From Buddhist to jihadist: Melbourne man Neil Prakash's journey to Islamic State". Theage.com.au. 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ "Neil Prakash Dead to Family Long before Mosul Strike". The Australian. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ "Warrant Issued for Islamic State Recruiter Neil Prakash". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ "Australian IS recruiter Neil Prakash 'killed in Iraq'". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ "ISIS recruiter Neil Prakash may be alive". News.com.au. 2016-06-27. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ Davis, Ashleigh (2016-06-26). "Australia's most senior terrorist Neil Prakash 'is still alive'". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ www.military.com/daily-news/2016/07/28/at-least-14-civilians-killed-us-airstrikes-iraq-syria-centcom.html