Off the wire
• New Zealand gov't unveils package to tackle child poverty  • Indian stocks open higher  • Kiwi gov't blames inflation for failing to hit surplus  • Spotlight: "Common destiny" to guide regional, global development: Russian experts  • Australian opposition urges decision on iron ore issue  • Three officials under graft probe  • China's manufacturing activity contracts in May: survey  • S.Korea to introduce electronic securities system by 2019  • China, Japan to hold finance minister dialogue  • Australia's 60-year commercial fish catch bigger than reported: research  
You are here: 　 Home

Australian teenager wants to return home from Syria

Xinhua, May 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

An Australian teenager who flew to Syria last month on a self-proclaimed "humanitarian" mission now wants to return home.

But 18-year-old Oliver Bridgeman would likely face jail under Australia's laws governing people entering such battle zones as he allegedly joined the Jihadi Al-Nusra Front on his venture.

The Queensland teen has since contacted his parents to say he wants to come home and has not been fighting in battles, News Corporation reported.

The Australian Federal Police nonetheless left the door open.

"The AFP is continuing to engage with his family, and are looking at ways that we might be able to communicate with him in an effort to convince him to return home," a spokesman said in a statement.

Bridgeman's desire to leave the embattled region comes as around a dozen Australians who joined Jihadist groups in Syria have had second thoughts, but either face jail on return or will not be allowed back into Australia. Endi