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Qld man funded Syrian incursions: police

Robyn WuthAAP
A Brisbane man is accused of being a senior member of an extremist organisation with links to Syria.
Camera IconA Brisbane man is accused of being a senior member of an extremist organisation with links to Syria. Credit: AAP

A Brisbane man has faced court charged with preparation for foreign incursions as part of a group involved in travelling to Syria to engage in hostile activity.

Omar Saghir, 39, appeared briefly in the Brisbane Magistrates Court by video link on Wednesday.

It will be alleged Saghir played a senior role in a Brisbane-based organisation that was religiously motivated and actively promoted a violent extremist ideology.

Police will allege Saghir was a founding senior figure of the group which provided financial aid to people to travel from Australia to Syria.

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The fighters took an active role in the Syrian conflict alongside Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group engaged in hostile activities against Syrian government forces, police allege.

The Brisbane man has been living in Saudi Arabia since 2019 and was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Team on July 16.

After serving his mandatory quarantine, Saghir was extradited to Queensland on Tuesday before the first mention in Brisbane's arrest court.

Saghir faces one count of preparations for incursions into foreign States for purpose of engaging in hostile activities - a charge which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

There is no ongoing threat to the community relating to this investigation.

The matter was adjourned for mention on Thursday.

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