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Two arrested in Sydney counter-terrorism raids linked to alleged attack on naval base Two arrested in Sydney counter-terrorism raids linked to alleged attack on naval base
(35 minutes later)
Two men will be charged with terrorism offences following raids in the Sydney suburbs of Bankstown and Merrylands as part of Operation Appleby, allegedly linked to a plot to possibly attack government buildings in Sydney, including the Australian federal police headquarters and a navy base in the city’s east. Two men will be charged with terrorism offences following raids in the Sydney suburbs of Bankstown and Merrylands as part of Operation Appleby.
New South Wales police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn said the charges were linked to a plot to possibly attack government buildings in Sydney. The Australian federal police headquarters and a navy base in the city’s east were among the alleged targets she named, but declined to give details of the men’s alleged involvement.
One of the men, 20-year-old Mohammad Almaouie from Bankstown, was targeted in raids earlier this month after which five men were charged with conspiring to prepare to commit a terrorist act.One of the men, 20-year-old Mohammad Almaouie from Bankstown, was targeted in raids earlier this month after which five men were charged with conspiring to prepare to commit a terrorist act.
He is expected to be charged with the same offence, New South Wales police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn said on Wednesday. Burn said the alleged plot did not relate to “a specific act, a specific activity”.
She said the alleged plot did not relate to “a specific act, a specific activity”. “What we will be saying is there was a group of people who came together with the idea, with the intent to do something and they started to make preparations to carry out a terrorist act,” she said. “What we will be saying is there was a group of people who came together with the idea, with the intent to do something and they started to make preparations to carry out a terrorist act,” she said.
“We think we disrupted what may have eventuated into something becoming more specific.”“We think we disrupted what may have eventuated into something becoming more specific.”
The charges are based on handwritten documents seized from a Wiley Park home in December 2014 which mentioned locations including the AFP headquarters, NSW police stations and a Navy base in Woolloomooloo. The charges are based on handwritten documents seized from a Wiley Park home in December 2014 which mentioned locations including the AFP headquarters, NSW police stations and a navy base in Woolloomooloo.
The second man arrested is understood to be a 24-year-old whose home in Merrylands has also been repeatedly raided by police.The second man arrested is understood to be a 24-year-old whose home in Merrylands has also been repeatedly raided by police.
He has been charged with making a document likely to facilitate a terrorist act.He has been charged with making a document likely to facilitate a terrorist act.
The other men charged with the conspiracy offence earlier this month are Sulayman Khalid, 21, Ibrahim Ghazzawy, 20, and Maywand Osman, 22. A 15-year-old from George’s Hall was also charged but cannot be named for legal reasons. The other men charged with the conspiracy offence earlier this month are Sulayman Khalid, 21, Ibrahim Ghazzawy, 20, and Maywand Osman, 22. A 15-year-old from Georges Hall was also charged but cannot be named for legal reasons.
A total of 13 people have been charged as part of Operation Appleby, which commenced in May 2014.A total of 13 people have been charged as part of Operation Appleby, which commenced in May 2014.