Advertisement

Track pants, tubing and one pack of water: Inside would-be terrorists' 'IS boat'

New pictures reveal inside the boat five would-be terrorists planned to use to traverse more than 3000 kilometres of rough seas from Cairns to Indonesia in a bizarre plan to join Islamic State in Syria.

The men towed the boat from Melbourne to Cairns at 30 km/h because of the weight of the boat and the age of their car.

Rubber tubing, water and clothes found on boat five men allegedly planned to travel to Indonesia in. Photo: 7News

Police say the seven-metre vessel showed the men were 'extremely committed' to their mission to join IS. Photo: 7 News

Photos reveal objects strewn around the main cavity of the boat, including socks, shoes, a tyre, a rubber hose and various items of clothing.

Just one bulk plastic-wrapped stash of bottled water sits unpacked for the five men on the journey.

A pair of tracksuit pants is draped over the boat's wheel, with what appears to be a small sleeping room with dishevelled sheets at the front of the boat.

Photo: 7News

Photo: 7News

A pair of tracksuit pants is draped over the boat's wheel, with what appears to be a small sleeping room with dishevelled sheets at the front of the boat. Photo: 7News

Photo: 7News

Renowned controversial Islamist preacher Musa Cerantonio is reportedly one of five men arrested.

Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Neil Gaughan confirmed on Wednesday the men had been under investigation for "a number of weeks".

The men, aged between 21 and 33, have not yet been charged.

"They were in a boat that was seven metres long.

Old photo of preacher Musa Cerantonio outside the Vatican with a flag that says “there is no god but Allah, Mohammed is the messenger of Allah". Photo: Facebook/7News

"They were obviously very committed," Mr Gaughan said in Melbourne.

The fact that they'd travelled from Melbourne to far north Queensland "indicates that these people were extremely committed in their adventure and their attempt to leave the country".


The passports of the men had been cancelled, police said.

An Australian Federal Police spokesman confirmed the men had been arrested but did not reveal any details.

He said the men were helping police with their inquires but the arrests were not related to any impending threat to the community.

Musa Cerantonio escorted by Filipino police during an arrest in 2014. Photo: AP

"As this activity remains ongoing, further comment will be provided when it is appropriate to do so," he said.

ABC radio has reported Cerantonio is one of those who has been arrested.

Islamist preacher Musa Cerantonio. Photo: ABC

Cerantonio, who was born a Catholic but converted to Islam as a teenager, was arrested and deported from the Philippines to Australia in 2014 for violating immigration laws.

Australia Federal Police arrested the men in Cairns only after fearing they would get into trouble on their way to Indonesia. Photo: AFP

The AFP has previously described his pro-IS social media posts as "offensive and disturbing".

According to News Corp, the group are all under 30 and on police watch lists, and planned to use the tinnie to go from north Queensland to Indonesia, before flying to Syria.