Australia admits another jihadist slipped through its security net

Australia’s prime minister has admitted the nation’s border security is not good enough after a second suspected jihadist slipped through the net to the Middle East.

A 19-year-old Sydney man left the country using his brother’s passport last week, but was detained on arrival in the United Arab Emirates and deported.

A notorious terrorist left Sydney in a similar security breach in December last year. The bungles are embarrassing for Australia which, along with the US, will ask United Nations member countries next month to co-operate in preventing militants from travelling to Iraq and Syria to fight for the Islamic State terrorist group.

Prime minister Tony Abbott said the 19-year-old would-be fighter, who has not been named, “did arouse concerns” when he was cleared by airport immigration officials. Mr Abbott did not describe those concerns, but said they were confirmed before the plane reached the UAE.

“While this person did get out of Australia, he wasn’t able to make his way to the battle front,” he said, “but it’s not good enough.”

Australia now plans to spend €438m over four years to enhance security.

Convicted terrorist Khaled Sharrouf used his brother’s passport to leave Australia last year and recently tweeted a photograph of his seven-year-old son clutching the severed head of a Syrian soldier.