Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has described illegal immigration as a "scourge" which is affecting the country on a "historic and unprecedented" scale.

Farage will outline his party's plans to tackle small boats crossings later on Tuesday, pledging to detain and deport people coming into the UK illegally.

He will also propose significant legal changes and question whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is on the side of human rights lawyers or the British people.

To make removals easier, Reform is promising to leave the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), repeal the Human Rights Act and disapply international treaties like the Refugee Convention.

With four MPs, Reform UK is a small force in the Commons.

But polling suggests its popularity has grown significantly - so significantly that Farage talks in today's Daily Telegraph about what he plans to do if his party wins power at the next general election.

Farage wants to introduce a legal obligation on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to remove people who arrive illegally - an approach which was tried by the last Conservative government.

Reform also wants to ban anyone entering illegally from ever being able to claim asylum.

"Under these new plans, if you come to the UK illegally you will be ineligible for asylum. No ifs, no buts," Farage wrote in the Telegraph.

• Farage vows mass deportations to tackle small boats
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• 'People are angry': Behind the wave of asylum hotel protests
• How many people cross the Channel in small boats?

He called on politicians to put the UK first.

Labour said Reform's plans had been written on the back of a fag packet - and there was no substance on delivery.

The Tories said Reform were recycling their ideas.

Farage said the country faced "a national emergency in which uncontrolled illegal migration undermines public order".

"The scourge of illegal migration that we have seen in this country over the last five years is historic and unprecedented," he wrote.

Nearly 28,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel since the start of year.

Meanwhile, more than 50,000 migrants have come to the UK via this route in the 403 days since Labour came to power in July 2024.

The prime minister had made tackling illegal immigration and "restoring order" to the asylum system a priority for the government.

Under a new "one in, one out" pilot scheme set up between the British and French governments, some people who come into the UK in small boats will be detained and sent back to France.

Ministers are said to be ready to send more than 100 small boats arrivals back across the Channel, The Times reports.

The group are currently in detention, including some arrested over the weekend, the paper says.

Official Home Office figures show that more than 2,500 migrants crossed the Channel in the first 11 days the agreement took effect.

On Monday, Labour said it was planning an overhaul of the asylum appeals system as it tries to cut the number of migrants staying in hotels while they await a ruling.

The government has been under increasing pressure to reduce its reliance on asylum hotels, with demonstrations held across the UK over the weekend the latest in a wave of protests over the policy.

A huge manhunt is under way for a "heavily armed" male suspect after two Australian police officers were shot dead and one injured in an ambush at a property in a small rural town in Victoria state.

Police described the situation in Porepunkah in the Australian Alps - some 300km (186 miles) north-east of Melbourne - as an "active incident" with hundreds of personnel deployed to find the suspect.

Officers were attacked as 10 of them attended the property to serve an arrest warrant, which Australian media said was for historical sex offences.

Police say the suspect escaped into the bush alone and on foot after the shooting. Officers are still trying to locate the man's wife and children.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said 10 officers went to the property on Tuesday at about 10:30 local time (00:30 GMT).

He described officers being fired upon by a heavily armed offender, saying two colleagues were "murdered in cold blood" while a third was seriously injured and airlifted to hospital.

The state police chief said all the available resources were being used in the manhunt for a "dangerous" suspect, and urged locals to stay indoors.

"[Our] priority is to arrest him and bring safety and security to this community," the officer said.

Footage from the scene earlier on Tuesday showed dozens of police deployed to Porepunkah and a police helicopter circling in the area.

The town, home to about 1,000 people, is part of the Alpine Shire local government area.

In a statement, Alpine Shire Council Mayor Sarah Nicholas paid tribute to the officers, extending "thoughts, love and unwavering" support to their families.

"Today has been a day of deep sorrow and shock for our community... We are grieving together," she said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan both praised the police officers for their bravery.

Local resident Emily White told the BBC she and her guests had been sheltering in a caravan park that she owned.

"I think reality really set in - that this is a really, really horrible situation," Ms White said.

"We're such a small community, and we'll leave our cars unlocked, and we'll leave our front doors open. Nothing like this ever happens."

Reports in the Austalian media say the alleged gunman is a self-declared "sovereign citizen" - which refers to someone who falsely believes they are not subject to Australian laws and government authority.

Called SovCits for short, these people have been a presence in the nation for decades, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The police say they are mostly harmless but there has been a resurgence of the beliefs in recent years - in part fuelled by mistrust in authorities which has been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.

In its 2023 briefing note, the AFP said the movement had "an underlying capacity to inspire violence".

Gun crime is relatively rare in Australia, which has some of the world's strictest gun regulations.

President Donald Trump has demanded the removal of one of the governors of the US central bank, a move that escalates his long-running feud with the institution.

Late on Monday, he posted on his Truth Social account a letter addressed to Lisa Cook, saying she was being removed from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors due to mortgage fraud allegations.

The move has caused an outcry from Democrats who say it amounts to unprecedented political interference.

Who is Lisa Cook and what does she do?

Ms Cook was appointed as governor of the Federal Reserve in 2022 by Democratic President Joe Biden, becoming the first African American to serve in the role. Her term was due to end in 2038.

She previously served on Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers and worked at the US Treasury.

There are seven governors on the board of the Fed and they play a key role in setting the monetary policy of the US.

They make up the majority of the committee that decides the level of US interest rates and aims to keep prices stable and unemployment as low as possible.

Ms Cook has voted in recent months to keep interest rates on hold this year.

• Full story: Trump orders removal of Cook
• Fed governor says she won't be 'bullied'
• Powell boosts expectation of US rate cut

What has Trump accused Lisa Cook of?

In his Truth Social post, the president cited allegations that Ms Cook may have falsified records to obtain a mortgage.

He said she signed two documents, two weeks apart, attesting that two homes in different states were both her primary residence.

"It is inconceivable that you were not aware of your first commitment when making the second. It is impossible that you intended to honor both," he wrote.

CNN has obtained and reviewed the mortgage documents in question and found she did claim two primary residences but it is unclear whether she informed either lender of the fact.

Ms Cook has not been charged with any wrongdoing and in statement she said she would fight her dismissal because Trump did not have just cause to fire her.

What does the Fed do?

As the central bank of the US, the Federal Reserve is responsible for running the nation's monetary policy, promoting stability in the financial system, regulating institutions and other tasks.

One of the most visible activities it undertakes is to set interest rates. This has a big impact on the nation's financial conditions by influencing how much money people can borrow.

The Fed functions as a federal agency and is considered to be independent within government - its decisions do not require the president's approval, though it is accountable to Congress.

Can Trump actually fire her?

This question could become the subject of an intense legal battle.

The Federal Reserve Act does not give the president license to remove a Fed official at will but, as Trump noted in his letter to Ms Cook, it does allow him to do so "for cause".

Trump cited a "criminal referral" against Cook - after his ally, the housing finance regulator, recently called for Ms Cook to be investigated for mortgage fraud. But it is not clear whether an investigation has been opened, and Ms Cook has not been charged with any crime.

As well as Ms Cook's denial that there is any cause to sack her, legal experts have shown scepticism.

Shan Wu, a former federal prosecutor, told CNN: "As of right now, I think it's kind of questionable for cause, but obviously that's what [Trump] is relying on, and I would expect her to challenge it."

Market reaction to Trump's move has been relatively tame so far - as investors, too, appear to be sceptical and are waiting to see if the sacking actually comes to pass.

Why does Trump want lower interest rates?

Trump has spent much of his second presidency putting pressure on the Fed, demanding that Powell cut interest rates to lower the cost of borrowing for American businesses and consumers. The target range is currently 4.25 to 4.5%.

Central banks typically cut rates in an effort to boost growth. But there is a balancing act, because higher interest rates help to keep inflation in check. Tackling inflation is another Trump priority.

Lower rates can also help US exporters and easing trade deficits is a central plank of Trump's economic policy.

Powell has so far steadfastly refused to reduce rates since Trump took office, but has hinted at a cut in September.

It was just another Friday morning on the Taiwanese island of Kinmen, a few kilometres from the coast of China, when an air raid siren pierced the calm.

At a local government office, people switched off their lights and dove under tables. Others fled to an underground car park. At a nearby hospital, staff rushed to treat people staggering in with bloody injuries.

But the blood was fake, and the casualties were volunteer actors. Together with the government workers, they were taking part in mandatory civil defence and military drills held across Taiwan last month.

The purpose? Rehearsing their response to a possible attack by China.

China has long vowed to "reunify" with self-governing Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force. It is a threat that Taiwan is increasingly taking seriously. President William Lai, who took office last year, is behind one of the strongest pushes in years to strengthen defence.

One of his biggest challenges, however, is convincing his own people of the urgency. While his defence drive has garnered support, it has also sparked controversy.

"We do need these defence drills, I believe there is some threat from China," says Ben, a finance professional who works in Taipei. "But the chances of a Chinese invasion are low. If they really wanted to attack us, they would have done so already."

Like Ben, most people in Taiwan – 65% according to a survey released in May by the military-affiliated Institute for National Defense and Strategic Research (INDSR) - believe it is unlikely that China will attack in the next five years.

This is despite the US warning that the threat to Taiwan was "imminent" and that Beijing is readying its military to be capable of invading by 2027.

Taiwan's military preparations

Lai and his government often repeat a particular phrase to explain what is driving them: "By preparing for war, we are avoiding war." They have stressed that they are not seeking conflict but exercising Taiwan's right to build up its defences.

As well as having initiated major military reforms, they also want to increase defence spending by 23% next year to NT$949.5bn (£23bn; $31bn), which would be more than 3% of their GDP, following US pressure to invest more in defence. Lai has pledged to increase it to 5% by 2030.

Following a lengthening of its mandatory conscription programme, Taiwan has now increased pay and benefits for the military, and introduced more rigorous training.

These measures are aimed at addressing the perennial problems of troop shortages and low morale - soldiers previously complained of poor training and were nicknamed "strawberry soldiers" for their perceived softness.

The annual Han Kuang war games, which rehearse a military response to a Chinese attack, have been revamped to replace scripted exercises with more realistic simulations.

This year's edition was the longest and largest ever, with 22,000 reservist troops taking part, about 50% more than last year. Besides tackling grey zone warfare and disinformation campaigns, one main focus was to prepare for urban warfare.

Soldiers rehearsed fending off enemy troops on the mass transit system, expressways and city suburbs. In Taipei, they practised loading missiles onto attack helicopters at a riverside park, and transformed a school into a battle tank repair station.

But the government is also preparing its citizens for invasion, upping the frequency and scale of civil defence drills.

Practice evacuations, raids and rescues

One of the largest ever, called the Urban Resilience Exercise, was held last month.

Over several days, every major urban area across Taiwan took turns to hold air raid drills. Residents in designated districts had to head indoors, while hotels, shops and restaurants had to pause business. Passengers could not get on or off trains and planes. Anyone caught flouting orders risked getting a fine.

In downtown Taipei, emergency teams and volunteers practised evacuating injured people, putting out fires, and lowering themselves down buildings which had been dressed up to look as if they had been hit by missiles. Medical teams triaged evacuees in a car park, wrapping up wounds and stringing up bags of saline for IV drips under tents.

Some Taiwanese approve. "I think it's a good thing. Because I do believe the threat has increased," says office worker Stanley Wei.

"Look at how China keeps surrounding us," he says, pointing out how China has been holding drills to encircle Taiwan with warships.

"I believe in a peaceful co-existence with China, but we need to increase our defence as well," says Ray Yang, who works in IT. "Before the Ukraine War, I didn't care about this [prospect of a Chinese attack]. But after Ukraine happened, I've started to really believe this could happen."

Some, however, are dismissive. "Even if the attack comes, what can we do?" argues Mr Liu, an engineer.

"I'm not sure they would invade anyway. This threat has always existed."

'Why would they hurt us ordinary folk?'

On Kinmen, the scepticism is even more prevalent.

The tiny island, which saw deadly clashes between Chinese and Taiwanese forces in the late 1940s and 50s, is considered a frontline of any possible attack. But with the improvement of cross-strait relations and economic links, many on Kinmen view their proximity to China as a boon, not a bane.

Much of Kinmen's economy is now geared towards serving Chinese tourists who take ferries across the narrow waterway from Xiamen, the nearest Chinese city.

Yang Peiling, 77, runs a shop in Kinmen selling traditional snacks. As a young girl, she witnessed Chinese forces from Xiamen shelling her island during the 1958 Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.

"We were on the mountain gathering wild vegetables, then we saw them shooting cannons and hitting Kinmen," she recalls. "[People] cried 'Xiamen is waging war.' Everything turned red."

Ms Yang and her family survived by hiding in mountain caves. Others from her village were killed.

Decades on, she welcomes day trippers from Xiamen at her shop. "China won't attack us now," she argues. "We are all Chinese, we are all one family. Why would they hurt us ordinary folk?"

Down the road at a souvenir store, shop assistant Ms Chen agrees. "If they blow up our buildings and kill us, what's the point of claiming a land like that? They would gain a Taiwan that has nothing, and that brings them no advantages."

This view - that invading Taiwan would be far too costly and pointless for China - is held by many Taiwanese. Beijing has repeatedly stressed it wants "peaceful reunification", seen by some as a signal it wants a Taiwan that is intact.

But Lai argues that China is a "foreign hostile force" that is planning to "annex" Taiwan, and is continuing its "political and military intimidation".

Another factor that has long reassured the Taiwanese is that the US is bound by law to preserve Taiwan's security. Though polls suggest this sense of reassurance has waned during President Donald Trump's current administration, some still believe the US would aid Taiwan in the event of an attack - and China would be reluctant to be drawn into a direct military conflict with America.

"This isn't a naïve and innocent view that China doesn't present a threat to Taiwan and would never attack Taiwan," said Shen Ming-shih, a defence analyst with the INDSR.

"Yes, Xi Jinping does have strategic warfare intentions for Taiwan. But China's current military strength does not match America's," he says.

There is also a belief that the international community would come to Taiwan's aid given its outsized importance in the global semiconductor industry, he adds.

But after facing decades of threats, there is also now "a sense of Beijing as the boy who cried wolf," says Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australian National University's Taiwan Center.

"Psychologically, you can't take every threat seriously without going insane. So people tune out to prioritise their mental health."

The debate around whether China will invade

Whether China will invade has long been an existential debate in Taiwan. But the urgency of this question has spiked with a recent escalation in tensions, particularly with William Lai's election last year.

Lai, who insists that Taiwan was never part of China, and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are reviled by the Chinese government as "separatists".

Beijing has accused Lai's government of deliberately antagonising them, particularly with the defence drive. Last month, China's defence ministry called the Han Kuang exercises "nothing but a bluffing and self-deceiving trick played by the DPP authorities to hijack Taiwan compatriots onboard its 'Taiwan Independence' war chariot".

Any formal declaration of independence by Taiwan could trigger military action from China, which has a law stating it will resort to "non-peaceful means" to prevent the "secession" of Taiwan. Lai maintains Taiwan is already a sovereign nation and therefore has no need to formally declare independence.

Besides turning up its rhetoric, China has also increasingly sent its warplanes and ships into Taiwanese airspace and waters.

China has never confirmed the US claim that it is readying its military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027. But it has been clearly beefing up its army, navy and weaponry, which will be shown off in a much-publicised parade next month.

Experts are divided on whether China is really planning to invade soon. But many agree that the tensions, coupled with China's military moves, increase the possibility of confrontation.

Beach landings, missile attacks and cable sabotage

There are myriad ways China could attack. Besides landing on Taiwan's beaches or launching missile attacks, it could also stage air and sea blockades, or sever undersea communication cables. Many of these scenarios are illustrated in a Taiwanese government-funded TV series depicting a fictional Chinese invasion.

But some, particularly the Taiwan government, believe a subtler invasion may already be taking place: one where China is trying to win the hearts and minds of ordinary Taiwanese in the hopes they would one day choose unification.

Officially, China has been encouraging trade and economic ties with Taiwan, as well as cultural links.

Unofficially though, according to analysts and Taiwan officials, Beijing has also invested in disinformation campaigns and influence operations. One study by the V-Dem Institute of Sweden's University of Gothenberg found that for many years, Taiwan has been the most targeted place in the world for disinformation campaigns initiated by a foreign government.

In March, Lai warned of China's deepening influence in Taiwan's economy, culture, media, and even the government, and announced several measures to tighten security.

A number of Taiwanese soldiers and military officials have been jailed for allegedly spying on behalf of China. Members of the DPP – including a former aide to Lai – have also been charged with spying.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese celebrities friendly to China, social media influencers and Chinese spouses of Taiwanese citizens have come under close scrutiny, with some deported or forced to leave.

Lai has also backed a deeply controversial grassroots movement aimed at kicking out opposition politicians perceived as being too close to China.

'Lai is crazy in the way he talks to China'

There are some signs of public support of the defence drive. The INDSR survey found more than half of Taiwanese approve of increasing defence spending, with even more supporting US weapons purchases.

But there is also unease. One view is that the defence drive and Lai's rhetoric are provoking China, which could lead to war.

"I feel China is very simple," says Ms Chen, the Kinmen shop assistant. "As long as you don't tell them you want independence, they won't do anything to you.

"But William Lai is crazy in the way he talks to China. It will stoke their fury. You never know, one day Xi Jinping may get very unhappy and attack us."

Polls consistently show that most Taiwanese people want the "status quo", meaning they neither want to unify with China, nor to formally declare independence.

The political opposition, dominated by the Kuomintang (KMT) party, accuses the DPP government of using the prospect of a Chinese invasion to fearmonger so it can gain political support.

Alexander Huang, the KMT's director of international affairs, characterised the DPP government as "verbally intimidating the Chinese unnecessarily and damaging the stability in the Taiwan Straits".

Still, others argue that Taiwanese need to take a firm stand against China.

"[Citizens] have to acknowledge that China is a threat to Taiwan, and can use force, and that it is currently preparing to do so," said Dr Shen.

"And so national security officials and the military must first prepare for this."

Top image credit: Ritchie B Tongo/ EPA/Shutterstock/ EPA -EFE/REX

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"When do I stop being an immigrant?"

There may be no more important question for people who come to Northern Ireland to build a new life – particularly for those who arrived years and even decades ago.

It's a question that was asked of Northern Ireland politicians in the wake of rioting that took hold in towns across Northern Ireland in the summer of 2024, by Muhammad Atif, a business owner and trustee of the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association.

He told BBC News NI "things haven't moved an inch" for ethnic minorities in the past year, even after scenes of disorder in June, which police described as "racist thuggery".

"Things have not changed and people are not feeling safe. Anybody I'm talking to, anybody contacting me, they are not feeling safe," he told BBC News NI.

"Being called an immigrant over and over and over when your second generation is born in Northern Ireland – I personally feel it's racist.

"What do I have to do? This is my question. I can't really answer it, to be honest.

"When do I stop being an immigrant?"

In total, 3.4% of Northern Ireland's population - 65,600 people - are from a minority ethnic group. That compares to 18.3% in England and Wales and 12.9% in Scotland.

The most recent figures show race hate crimes in Northern Ireland are on the rise.

There were 1,188 between April 2024 and March 2025 - a rise of 349 on the last financial year and the highest since the records began in 2004.

'Incendiary flyers'

Among the thousands of people who have made Northern Ireland their home who watched violent scenes unfold twice in the last year was Sree Kadalayil, who said it was "unnerving".

"There were times when I thought 'this is going to kick off' and I wasn't very comfortable being in big public spaces," he said.

"There was an underlying feeling of, like – is this safe? Am I safe? Is my child safe?"

Sree moved to the UK more than 20 years ago to study before moving to Northern Ireland for his career in 2006.

Now, he is raising a little boy with his wife Jude Pollock – but even after all these years the couple have experienced racism and hate crime.

"Even when we go to the voting booth, Sree has faced racism going to vote, as if he shouldn't be voting," Jude said.

She said the family had received political flyers through the door that talked about immigration in an "incendiary" way.

"I went to political offices and I handed flyers back. I said: 'Don't put that through my door," she said.

"You don't know the door you're putting it through. We're a mixed-ethnicity family."

She said the narrative around immigration "serves the agenda to be pointing at others instead of actually fixing the problems that are broken for all the public services".

"People assume I'm not my son's mother because we look different," she said.

"But I hope that he learns how to handle it. I hope I can teach him how to handle it well."

Domingas Gusmao is also raising a family in Northern Ireland – she moved here from East Timor 14 years ago.

She was worried the trouble could spread to Dungannon, County Tyrone, where she lives with her husband and three children, who were born here.

"I'm hoping that this will never happen again and I can only hope people can be kind to each other, and being kind – it costs nothing," she said.

"But look, you cannot control everybody but you can control how you react to it."

When Domingas first came to Northern Ireland, it was hard adjusting to a new language and culture.

"I tried to talk to everybody," she said.

"Strangers, the taxi driver, colleagues from work, everywhere.

"That's how I learned English – and watching movies, of course."

Almost 15 years later, she still sometimes feels like an immigrant – but not all the time.

"I also feel like I'm part of the community, because the community here, always wants us to be a part of the events," she said.

"They welcome us. Many of our children were born here, so then you get to feel like it's not just a place, but it's a home.

"And we feel like we belong here."

Difficult conversations

Muhammad Atif agreed that the majority in Northern Ireland "welcome you with open hand and open hearts".

But that did not make the situation this summer any easier.

"I was taking my children away for a few days after the Ballymena riots and my eight-year-old daughter asked me: 'Daddy, are we leaving because things are not good here?'" he said.

"I had to tell her, no, I booked these flights in advance.

"That's a difficult conversation to have with an eight-year-old. And this conversation is normal in immigrant households."

Sree said it was an important, ongoing conversation he had with his son.

"He's aware of his skin colour and how it's different from others, but doesn't make him any lesser or better," he said.

"I don't want his worldview to be tainted by a victim complex, for him to think it's a big scary world.

"I don't want him to believe every aggression or every reaction of some person towards him is discrimination."

But does Sree still feel like an immigrant? It's complicated.

He used to refer to India as home – but that changed.

"I remember one time landing back into Dublin Airport from India and it was really chilly, and I said to myself: 'I'm home,'" he said.

"This place has offered me a life, it's welcomed me, the people have welcomed me.

"It's given me safety, opportunities. It's given me good vibrations."

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A huge manhunt is under way for a "heavily armed" male suspect after two Australian police officers were shot dead and one injured in an ambush at a property in a small rural town in Victoria state.

Police described the situation in Porepunkah in the Australian Alps - some 300km (186 miles) north-east of Melbourne - as an "active incident" with hundreds of personnel deployed to find the suspect.

Officers were attacked as 10 of them attended the property to serve an arrest warrant, which Australian media said was for historical sex offences.

Police say the suspect escaped into the bush alone and on foot after the shooting. Officers are still trying to locate the man's wife and children.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said 10 officers went to the property on Tuesday at about 10:30 local time (00:30 GMT).

He described officers being fired upon by a heavily armed offender, saying two colleagues were "murdered in cold blood" while a third was seriously injured and airlifted to hospital.

The state police chief said all the available resources were being used in the manhunt for a "dangerous" suspect, and urged locals to stay indoors.

"[Our] priority is to arrest him and bring safety and security to this community," the officer said.

Footage from the scene earlier on Tuesday showed dozens of police deployed to Porepunkah and a police helicopter circling in the area.

The town, home to about 1,000 people, is part of the Alpine Shire local government area.

In a statement, Alpine Shire Council Mayor Sarah Nicholas paid tribute to the officers, extending "thoughts, love and unwavering" support to their families.

"Today has been a day of deep sorrow and shock for our community... We are grieving together," she said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan both praised the police officers for their bravery.

Local resident Emily White told the BBC she and her guests had been sheltering in a caravan park that she owned.

"I think reality really set in - that this is a really, really horrible situation," Ms White said.

"We're such a small community, and we'll leave our cars unlocked, and we'll leave our front doors open. Nothing like this ever happens."

Reports in the Austalian media say the alleged gunman is a self-declared "sovereign citizen" - which refers to someone who falsely believes they are not subject to Australian laws and government authority.

Called SovCits for short, these people have been a presence in the nation for decades, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The police say they are mostly harmless but there has been a resurgence of the beliefs in recent years - in part fuelled by mistrust in authorities which has been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.

In its 2023 briefing note, the AFP said the movement had "an underlying capacity to inspire violence".

Gun crime is relatively rare in Australia, which has some of the world's strictest gun regulations.