Fighters from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) burn confiscated cigarettes in the city of Raqqa April 2, 2014.STRINGER/Reuters
The Australian government says it will spend 64 million Australian dollars (or $60 million U.S.) on measures to counter violent extremism and radicalization as Islamic State continues to recruit foreign fighters to its ranks in Iraq and Syria.
The measures announced Tuesday include strengthened community engagement programs aimed at preventing young Australians from becoming involved with extremist groups and new multi-agency investigation teams to disrupt foreign fighters and their supporters.
The Australian government is giving high priority to reducing a domestic terrorism threat created by homegrown extremists who travel to Syria and Iraq to fight.