Australian Nurse Charged With Supporting IS

Police say an Australian nurse has been charged with supporting the Islamic State (IS) militant group after he voluntarily returned home from Syria.

The nurse, identified as 39-year-old Islam convert Adam Brookman, briefly faced a Melbourne court on July 26.

Brookman surrendered himself to officials in Turkey on July 21 and arrived in Australia on July 24, Australian Federal police said in a statement.

He was charged with knowingly providing support to a terrorist organization, which carries a maximum jail time of 25 years.

Brookman, a father of five, has told Australian media he went to Syria on a humanitarian mission and was forced to join the IS militant group after he had been wounded.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said at least 70 Australians were fighting in Iraq and Syria, backed by about 100 Australia-based "facilitators".

Australia has raised the terror threat level to high and conducted several high-profile raids in major cities.

Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and dpa