A Somalian Muslim man has been arrested in Melbourne after allegedly pledging allegiance to ISIS and sharing instructional material on how to carry out mass casualty attacks.
Mohamed Bakit, 65, was taken into custody in Carlton on Wednesday and charged with membership of a terrorist organisation, using a carriage service to menace harass and cause offence by transmitting violent extremist material, and possessing or controlling violent extremist material.
Police said an investigation into Bakit began after he was intercepted at the airport in 2020 and “suspicious content” was found on his phone, leading to a police raid and the seizure of more electronic devices in 2024.
Alleged ISIS member, 65, arrested in Melbourne accused of being one of the main distributors of the terror group’s propaganda, including instructional material on how to carry out attacks.
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Forensic examination of the devices allegedly revealed Bakit pledged his allegiance to ISIS and performed the role of an online propagandist from Australia, sending about 10,000 files containing extremist content between November 2015 and July 2020, police said.
“It will be alleged in court that the man shared information about avoiding detection from law enforcement, along with instructional guides on planning and conducting mass casualty attacks,” police said.
“Investigators allege the man’s role was significant, with the scale of the dissemination of extremist material placing him as one of the principal distributors of ISIS propaganda within the groups on the messaging platform.”
AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Paula Hudson alleged the material the man sent included “abhorrent” depictions of torture, executions, and information “designed to radicalise others”.
But she said Bakit was not linked to any specific attacks, and said there was “no threat to the community”.
Bakit, who lives with his wife, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he was remanded in custody until a bail application listed for Thursday, news.com.au reported. The court heard he is in “poor health”, had a stroke in 2023, and has diabetes and heart problems.
He faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
The government is soft on terror. Today’s reported arrest in Melbourne of a Somali-born alleged ISIS extremist is confirmation that radical Islamic terror is festering in Australia.
After the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil last year, the government is still… pic.twitter.com/ZnpGelpgg4
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) September 23, 2026
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson spoke out about the arrest, and said it was evidence that “radical Islamic terror is festering in Australia”.
“After the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil last year, the government is still downplaying the threat of radical Islam. This alleged terrorist is accused of being a member of ISIS and providing instructions to others on how to plan and carry out mass casualty terrorist attacks,” she said.
“The country has watched as Tony Burke has allowed alleged ISIS members back into Australia while secretly facilitating the return of more alleged ISIS fighters. The Prime Minister refused to call the threat what it is: radical Islamic terrorism.
“First the Albanese government refused to name radical Islamic terrorism in the days after Bondi. Then they were dragged kicking and screaming into calling a Royal Commission. But they made sure it wouldn’t properly examine radical Islamic terrorism.”
Header image: Left, right, the man being arrested (AFP).
