Is ISIS Involved With Aussie Uber Driver?

Uber driver allegedly told Canberra passenger he was involved with IS, wanted to blow up Parliament

By Jesse Dorsett

Updated about 11 hours ago

PHOTO: The mother outlined her daughter's experience on a Canberra Facebook group. (Supplied)

MAP: Canberra 2600

An Uber driver who allegedly told a passenger he was involved with Islamic State and planned to blow up Parliament House and a major Canberra shopping centre is being investigated by police.

A Canberra mother claimed the man threatened to take her daughter to Cooma, more than 100 kilometres south of the city, instead of her home after he picked her up on Saturday night.

She said her daughter only escaped from the car after convincing the man she needed to use a bathroom at a service station in Hume.

The mother, who the ABC has spoken with, shared the disturbing details on Facebook of the 26-year-old's experience.

"[He] asked me if I had ever eaten human flesh and about how he has his own ISIS-related organisation and how he was going to bomb Parliament House and the Canberra Centre," the post said.

"I asked him 'how long until I'm home?' He said 'I'm not taking you home, I'm going to Cooma.' I was terrified!"

The mother said her daughter then called triple-0 with the phone on her lap hoping the operator would hear what the driver was saying.

"I saw the Hume service station coming up and convinced the driver to make a quick stop to use the bathroom," she said on Facebook.

"I banged on the window for the girl to let me in, I told her what was happening and we again called triple-0 as they had hung up after one minute when I initially called from the car."

Driver not charged after police searched vehicle

ACT Policing confirmed to the ABC they received a triple-0 call just after 2:00am on Sunday about an Uber driver who made "concerning comments".

"Police conducted a search of the vehicle and no items of interest were located. Police have conducted appropriate background inquiries with all law enforcement and intelligence agencies," a statement said.

"Police established there was no immediate or ongoing threat to public safety or the complainant. Police drove the complainant to their residence."

The police spokeswoman said the man had not been charged but investigations were ongoing.

"Police take all matters reported seriously and respond accordingly," she said.

An Uber spokesman said the driver had been banned from the app while he was under investigation.

"We informed law enforcement and restricted the driver-partner's access to the Uber app when we became aware of these allegations," he said.

"We'll continue liaising with the police as the allegations are assessed."