A DOZEN young women have fled Melbourne’s suburbs to join Islamic State, according to a new Victoria Police taskforce set up to fight the growing threat of terrorism.

The Herald Sun can reveal that of the 12 who have attempted to join the brutal group, five have been successful and are living in the conflict zone.

Four of the women got as far as Turkey before being turned back; one was stopped by Customs in Australia; and two are unaccounted for.

TASKFORCE TO KEEP TABS ON EXTREMISTS

Widow Zehra Duman and mother Dullel Kassab are two of the women now living under Islamic State.

In the past two months, Victoria Police has set up Taskforce Pax to try to fill gaps in intelligence in the fight against terrorism.

Assistant Commissioner Tracy Linford, who is in charge of the Security and Organised Crime Intelligence Unit, said the new taskforce was set up to cater for the large increase in terrorism-related work since the threat level was raised last September.

media_camera Facebook photo of Zehra Duman.

media_camera Assistant commissioner Tracy Linford. Picture: Brendan Francis

Authorities are concerned that women who have joined IS are contacting vulnerable young females in Melbourne to persuade them to join and to give them advice on how to make the journey to Syria.

Most of the 12 women are 18 to 20; one is 29.

“We are seeing a trend of young females travelling over there,” Ms Linford said.

media_camera Dullel Kassab.

“I suspect there are more than 12, but these are the ones we have a good understanding of.

“What we have seen is deliberate attempts on their part to cover up what they are doing,” she said.

“Our intelligence tells us these women are going over there to meet their partners, to marry somebody in an arranged marriage or be pushed into sexual servitude.”

“They have told family and friends a story which is not what it seems to be. They say they are going somewhere else or travelling for some other purpose.”

More than 30 men are known to have left Melbourne to join Islamic State.

The 12 women who have left are from Melbourne’s northern and south-eastern suburbs.

Ms Linford said they had a misguided view of what life would be like for them.

“There is a romantic view of life there,” she said.

“It doesn’t surprise me these young women can be romanticised by false truths coming through on social media,” Ms Linford said.

“They are told they have an important role to play in setting up the Islamic State.”

“Zehra Duman … clearly, she is reaching back and sending messages back to other would be travellers.

“They put out a positive picture on what life is like.”

Parents and friends should keep a close eye on young women who might be considering going to Syria.

“If you see the behaviour of a young female relative or friend changing then intervene,” Ms Linford added.

“You can call the national security hotline or ring your local police station (or) go to a respected imam and try and get advice that way.”

david.hurley@news.com.au

Twitter:@davidhurleyHS