Neil Prakash
Neil Prakash, known as Abu Khaled al-Cambodi (Arabic: أبو خالد الكمبودي), is an Australian man and senior member in the Islamic State group.
History
He was born in Melbourne, Australia to a Fijian father and a Cambodian mother from the south-east suburb of Springvale South.[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 19 August 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 believed he might still be alive.[5][6] It was later discovered that Prakash had been wounded in a strike, and then escaped to Syria.[7]
Then on 29 July 2016, the United States Central Command said four civilians had been killed in a strike targeting Prakash on 29 April 2016.[8]
In November 2016, Prakash was captured in Turkey after he tried to cross the Syrian border into Turkey using false documents and a fake name.[7] On 25 November 2016, Australian counter-terrorism officials confirmed that Prakash was still alive and had been arrested several weeks previously by Turkish officials in Turkey.[9] Australia has applied for his extradition on a Federal Police warrant for:
...being a member of ISIS, recruitment of others and being involved in the plotting to “massacre” crowds and behead police at an Anzac Day commemoration in Melbourne in 2015.[10][11]
In May 2017, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that Prakash, was expected to be extradited from Turkey in months to stand trial in Australia.[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.
- ^ a b c Ross, Monique (12 May 2017). "IS recruiter Neil Prakash to be extradited 'within months'". ABC News. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "At Least 14 Civilians Killed in US Airstrikes in Iraq, Syria: Centcom". military.com. 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
- ^ "Islamic State: Australian fighter Neil Prakash alive, arrested in Middle East, counter-terrorism officials confirm". ABC News. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- ^ "Aussie IS recruiter caught in Turkey". NewsComAu. News Limited. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-26/australia-to-push-for-extradition-of-is-recruiter/8060236