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Counter-terrorism police raid properties in four Sydney suburbs Counter-terrorism police raid properties in four Sydney suburbs
(about 1 hour later)
Australian counter-terrorism police have raided properties in several Sydney suburbs in an operation aimed at disrupting plans for “terrorist attacks”. Australian counter-terrorism police have raided properties in four Sydney suburbs in connection with plans believed to involve bombing an aircraft.
“These operations are designed to disrupt and prevent plans to undertake terrorist attacks in Australia,” the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said. “These operations are designed to disrupt and prevent plans to undertake terrorist attacks in Australia,” said the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the raids late on Saturday by the joint counter-terrorism team in four Sydney suburbs “relate to an ongoing investigation”. Saturday’s raids were in relation to a terrorist cell “and a bomb plot involving aircraft”, Fairfax reported.
Both Turnbull’s office and the AFP declined to provide further information as the raids were still in progress. Australian federal police (AFP) said four people had been arrested in the series of raids late on Saturday by the joint counter-terrorism team, which “relate to an ongoing investigation”.
“The public should be reassured that our security and intelligence agencies are working tirelessly to keep us safe,” Turnbull said. Both Turnbull’s office and the AFP declined to provide further information as the raids, on properties at Surry Hills, Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl, were still in progress.
“My number one priority, and that of my government, is the safety and security of all Australians, and the public should be reassured that our security and intelligence agencies are working tirelessly to keep us safe,” Turnbull said. The prime minister said he was being briefed on the operation’s progress by security agencies.
As many as 40 riot squad officers were seen at a house in the inner suburb of Surry Hills. Drivers were told to avoid the area between Elizabeth and Crown streets.
Television footage showed a man with a bandaged head being led away by officers, wrapped in a blanket.
Australia, a staunch ally of the US, has been on heightened alert for attacks by homegrown militants returning from fighting in the Middle East, or their supporters, since 2014.Australia, a staunch ally of the US, has been on heightened alert for attacks by homegrown militants returning from fighting in the Middle East, or their supporters, since 2014.
Authorities say they have thwarted a number of potential attacks since then, but there have been several “lone wolf” assaults, including a December 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Authorities say they have thwarted a number of potential attacks since then, but several “lone wolf” attacks have occurred, including a December 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead.
About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organisations such as Islamic State, Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has said. In June, Melbourne police launched a terror probe and raided five addresses after a man killed an escort he had taken hostage and injured three officers, before dying in the shootout with police.
Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported that as many as 40 riot squad officers were seen swooping on a house in the inner suburb of Surry Hills. In February, police arrested a 42-year-old electrician following a raid on his house in connection with supporting Islamic State.
About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organisations such as Isis, Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has said.
Australia’s National Terrorism Threat Advisory System lists the threat level as “probable”, the third-highest measure, while the UK foreign office advice says terrorists are “very likely” to try to carry out attacks in the country.
In September 2014, the biggest counter-terrorism raids in Australian history led to 15 people being detained.