Two women linked to ISIS are expected to be arrested when they return to Australia, according to new information obtained by Sky News.
The development comes as a group of four women and nine children prepare to travel back from Syria, with authorities already planning how to handle their arrival.
Sky News host Sharri Markson said law enforcement agencies had been anticipating the return for months and are ready to act as soon as the group touches down.
“I can reveal two of the ISIS brides are expected to be arrested when they land in Australia,” Markson said on Tuesday.
The cohort has reportedly secured documentation to travel, although there is still uncertainty around when they will arrive.
“They have been issued air-tickets and passports to return to Australia, although the Albanese government has not confirmed return time or day yet,” she said.
The group left the al-Roj detention camp in northeastern Syria over the weekend and are now making their way back, prompting renewed scrutiny over national security arrangements.
Markson said police are actively working through the response, with further arrests not ruled out.
Authorities have been tracking the situation for some time, with preparations beginning well before the group’s departure from Syria.
According to Markson, AFP and New South Wales Police have been aware of the return of this cohort since late last year.
The federal government has not publicly confirmed any arrests will take place, but has acknowledged it remains a possibility.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declined to provide further operational details, citing security concerns and insisting Australia has not assisted in the group’s return.
“Federal authorities – I have every confidence in the work that they do to keep Australia safe and they continue to monitor these issues, but Australia is providing no support for this cohort,” he said.
“It’s probably best that security systems operate securely and ours does and will continue to do so.”
Mr Albanese has previously said the children involved are victims of their parents’ actions, while maintaining intelligence matters should remain confidential.
The planned return has drawn criticism from the opposition, with calls for greater transparency around the risks posed by the group and questions about whether the government could have prevented their re-entry.
It comes after the government concealed details about how it conducted passport checks for the “ISIS brides” after claiming the women received no assistance.
The government said the information was not sufficiently in the public interest to be released.