The Australian government announced on Tuesday a counter-terrorism strategy to restraint threats posed by homegrown extremists, reports said.

Australia said it would spend A$630 million ($585 million) on counter-terrorism measures that strengthens community engagement programs to prevent young Australian citizens to get involved with terrorist groups.

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According to some sources, some Australian citizens became radicalized and working with other terrorist organizations overseas. Dozens of young people were believed to be fighting alongside jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the reporters that the Australian government was alarmed by the danger of people trained by terrorist groups and come back Australia.

Security analysts stated that thousands of foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria traveled from scores of countries around the world, some reports confirmed.

About 100 Australia-based facilitators supported at least 60 Australians who fought in Iraq and Syria, which means the government needs to face more potential homegrown terrorists once they return Australia, Abbott added.

Prime Minister Abbott also emphasized the call for action to counter radicalization because of the recent cruel killings and the impudent presence of Australian citizens among the foreign fighters.

The counter-terrorism issue heightened after a photograph believed to be the son of Australian jihadist Khaled Sharrouf was published earlier this month holding a decapitated head of a Syrian soldier, some reports said.

The Islamic State militant movement threatens those who do not share their violent goals, Abbott said.

However, some sources said that some sections of the Australian community criticized Abbott’s adoption of nationalistic terms describing those who travel overseas by joining the Iraq and Syria conflicts.

The Islamic Council of Victoria boycotted a meeting with PM Abbott after he said that everyone has to be part of the “Team Australia”, which supports community efforts to prevent youth radicalization, and quoting that those who migrate to this country should join the team, some reports confirmed.

TagsAustralia, Foreign fighters, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, ISIL