CANBERRA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Wednesday at a press conference announced 74 million Australian dollars (about 48.8 million U.S. dollars) for a security center to crack down on online violent extremism and terrorism.

The newly created Counter Terrorism Online Centre will be led by Australia's security agency ASIO and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Burke said the AFP had put in 31 charges under new offenses on online extremism and radicalization, and 19 of them are minors.

"This feature of young people being radicalized fast online is real and the agencies, as is evident in those charges that have been brought to bear by the Australian Federal Police, have been acting on this," Burke said.

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett noted that terrorists are manipulating vulnerable and susceptible individuals at "rapid speed," in part because emerging technology has blurred the boundary between the virtual and real worlds.

"The speed and scale of radicalization is becoming one of our most significant challenges, especially when it comes to youth," she said.

Investigators and intelligence analysts will work together to monitor high-risk online spaces, assess threats and disrupt extremist activities, including through undercover online engagement. ■