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Islamic militancy
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Accused Islamic State recruiter Neil Prakash is getting consular help from Australia

He has been wanted for arrest since August 2015 after he was linked to a suspected plot to ­behead a Victorian police officer on Anzac Day

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suspected senior Islamic State recruiter and conspirator Neil Prakash. Photo: YouTube
The Guardian

Australia is giving consular help to the suspected senior Islamic State recruiter and conspirator Neil Prakash, with hopes he will share intelligence on the terrorist group, a federal minister has said.

Australia’s most wanted man, who has been held in Turkey on terrorism charges since his arrest last October, has received “basic” help from consular officials, the foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, has confirmed.

News Corp reported the help came at the request of the accused terrorist, who has told Turkish authorities he has two children born during fighting in Syria who may be entitled to Australian ­citizenship.

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The Australian government’s focus was on intelligence that Prakash could share on Islamic State, Bishop’s cabinet colleague Greg Hunt said on Sunday.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop. Photo: EPA
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop. Photo: EPA
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“That’s our interest, precisely so as to protect Australians at home and abroad,” the health minister told Channel Seven.

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