Australia charges five men over plot to sail to join Islamic State

The men, aged between 21 and 31, were charged on May 14 with preparing to enter a foreign country "for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities," an offense that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Australian Attorney-General George Brandis told reporters on May 15 "their intentions to travel to the Middle East to engage in terrorist war fighting were known to the authorities," and that their passports had earlier been canceled.

The five, who were not named, were arrested on May 10 after towing the seven-meter motor boat almost 3,000 km (1,865 miles) from Melbourne to Cairns in northern Queensland state, police said.

The men, in custody since May 10, will appear in court on May 16.

A separate police statement said there is no current threat of a terrorist act to the Australian community arising from this investigation.

On May 15, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she will said attend Syria peace talks in Vienna on  May 17 co-chaired by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.