<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New "hate disrupter squads" are targeting those pushing "hatred, fear, and humiliation" amid a warning from the Australian Federal Police that "influences and influencers are poisoning the minds of our kids".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett revealed the existence of the units during a Senate estimates hearing last night, along with two separate ongoing operations dedicated to combating white supremacists and hate preachers, and fears about terror threats getting younger.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Twenty-one people had already been charged, mostly over threats towards parliamentarians, high-office holders and the Jewish community.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-protest-pro-palestine-police-response/cdfcde98-83ed-4061-a729-85539e52e684"><strong><span>Fresh tensions as hundreds gather to demand cops face action</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ai-at-work-policy-termination-exclusive-poll/428a1505-b2e9-45e8-918d-14cdbe630b8a"><strong><span>Why thousands of Aussie workers could be risking termination</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They were set up to target groups and individuals causing high harm to Australia's social cohesion because I was so concerned about the current and emerging groups and individuals who are eroding the country's social fabric by advocating hatred, fear, and humiliation," Barrett told the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While many of these groups and individuals are not committing terrorism offences, the AFP has identified behaviour that may escalate towards politically or ideologically-motivated violence or hate crimes."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/senate-estimates-2026-afp-hate-disrupter-squads-launched-amid-poisoning-of-kids-minds/93229280-255d-480b-9e5a-c2061b053310" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Barrett said in the current climate it was "probable" young people would start to be declared "high risk terrorist offenders".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A majority of our terrorism caseload continues to be religiously motivated violent extremism," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are also recording increasing incidents of ideologically motivated violent extremism.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are also witnessing a trend of lone actors being radicalised quickly – and this creates a more challenging environment for law enforcement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And of significant concern, we are witnessing a growing cohort of people, including youth, who are susceptible to hatred or are attracted to violence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Too many influences and influencers are poisoning the minds of our kids and the vulnerable."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under questioning from senators, Barrett was pushed to respond to widely criticised footage of NSW Police clashing with protesters at Sydney Town Hall on Monday night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rebel-wilson-updates-alister-wilson-to-take-stand-in-fiery-film-showdown/893cc071-d717-407c-929a-cec0a8c5e1de" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Aussie actress to take the stand in fiery film showdown</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2021188154590413282?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She refused to comment directly on the videos but said the AFP would have a " significant policing presence" today for Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to the ACT.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Absolutely I can provide you with that assurance around the professionalism of our members, ensuring that they will go about their duties respectfully with the protest, but also if we do see criminal behaviour responding appropriately," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Barrett came in for criticism by Greens senator David Shoebridge for not appointing an acting commissioner while she was in Vanuatu in December.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Bondi terrorist attack occurred during the two days she was visiting the Pacific nation for talks about regional security.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shoebridge said he found the decision not to appoint an acting commissioner "extraordinary" but Barrett insisted she was in charge and had full communication, even able to dial into the National Security Committee meeting within two hours of the attack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The AFP responded extremely swiftly, immediately after Bondi, so I take offence if there's any insinuation that we didn't as an organisation," Barrett said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minister Murray Watt insisted the commissioner had the government's full confidence and said Shoebridge's treatment of public servants "all day, all year, every estimates" was "disappointing".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A 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