Australia’s most wanted terrorist Neil Prakash has reportedly denied charges against him during a Turkish court appearance.
The Melbourne-born extremist was captured in Turkey in November last year, months after the Government had announced that he had been killed in an air strike in Iraq.
When his death was announced in May 2016, it was hailed as a significant blow against Islamic State.
But it had later emerged that the 27-year-old had only been wounded in the strike and had escaped to Syria.
According to Turkey’s Hurriet newspaper, Prakash faced court in the city of Killis on Tuesday via video link.
It is unclear what the Islamic State group recruiter has been charged with, but Hurriyet reports Parkash rejected the accusations levelled against him.
Terrorist Neil Prakash ‘appears in Turkish court’ – via @abcnews https://t.co/gsGIbxWe6b pic.twitter.com/Fk1Har9wvY
— Raziel רזיאל (news) (@benavu54) May 26, 2017
Prakash has been linked to foiled terrorist attacks in Australia, including Anzac Day commemorations in 2015 and 2016.
He is also said to have been in contact with Numan Haider, the 18-year-old who was killed after stabbing two police officers in Melbourne in 2014.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he expected that Prakash would be extradited within months to face trial in Australia.
“We are satisfied that Neil Prakash, who has been one of the key financiers or organisers in ISIL or Daesh, this barbaric terrorist group, he will be brought back to Australia and he will face the courts,” Mr Turnbull told media.
It is understood Prakash will face charges in Australia including “membership of a terrorist organisation”, “advocating terrorism”, “providing support to a terrorist organisation” and “incursions into foreign countries with the intention of engaging in hostile activities”.
