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Isis plan to 'behead random member of the public' in Sydney thwarted by Australian police Isis plan to 'behead random member of the public' in Sydney thwarted by Australian police
(35 minutes later)
Australia has foiled an alleged attempt by the Islamic State (Isis) to launch an terror attack in its capital, aimed at beheading a random member of the public as a demonstration of the militant group’s clout. Australia says it has foiled an alleged attempt by the Islamic State (Isis) to launch a terror attack, aimed at beheading a random member of the public as a demonstration of the militant group’s clout.
Police raided properties across Sydney, Brisbane and Logan, detaining 15 people and charging one with a terrorism-related offence. Police raided properties across Sydney, Brisbane and Logan, in the early hours detaining 15 people and charging one with a terrorism-related offence.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was briefed on the plans by intelligence chiefs last night, said: “The exhortations — quite direct exhortations — were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in [Isis] to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country,” though he did not name the person.Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was briefed on the plans by intelligence chiefs last night, said: “The exhortations — quite direct exhortations — were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in [Isis] to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country,” though he did not name the person.
He confirmed that the authorities were made aware of a plan by jihadists to stage a public execution in Sydney, adding: “This is not just suspicion, this is intent and that's why the police and security agencies decided to act in the way they have.” He confirmed that the authorities were made aware of a plan by jihadists to stage a public execution in Sydney, adding: “This is not just suspicion, this is intent and that's why the police and security agencies decided to act in the way they have.” More than a dozen properties were raided in the country’s largest counterterrorism operation, involving more than 800 officers in Sydney alone.
More than a dozen properties were raided in the country’s largest counterterrorism operation, involving more than 800 officers in Sydney alone.
Omarjan Azari, 22, from Sydney, appeared in a court today charged with conspiracy to prepare for a terrorist attack.Omarjan Azari, 22, from Sydney, appeared in a court today charged with conspiracy to prepare for a terrorist attack.
He is accused of conspiring with a 33-year-old former nightclub bouncer called Mohammad Ali Baryalei – for whom an arrest warrant has been issued – between May and September of this year.He is accused of conspiring with a 33-year-old former nightclub bouncer called Mohammad Ali Baryalei – for whom an arrest warrant has been issued – between May and September of this year.
Pre-dawn raids across Sydney and Brisbane Baryalei is suspected to be Australia’s most senior member of Isis.Pre-dawn raids across Sydney and Brisbane Baryalei is suspected to be Australia’s most senior member of Isis.
Prosecutor Michael Allnutt said Azari was part of a scheme to “gruesomely” behead a random member of the public in an act that involved an “unusual level of fanaticism” that was “clearly designed to shock and horrify”.Prosecutor Michael Allnutt said Azari was part of a scheme to “gruesomely” behead a random member of the public in an act that involved an “unusual level of fanaticism” that was “clearly designed to shock and horrify”.
Senior police chiefs say that the plan was at “a very high level” and the terror charges relate to a phone call that had been intercepted.Senior police chiefs say that the plan was at “a very high level” and the terror charges relate to a phone call that had been intercepted.
The thwarted attack comes six days after Australia raised its terror warning from medium to high, though Mr Abbott advised that the move did “not mean that a terror attack is imminent”. According to Yahoo some of those taken into custody have reportedly already had their passports invalidated.
The thwarted attack comes six days after Australia raised its terror warning from medium to high - a move which Mr Abbott advised did “not mean that a terror attack is imminent”.
(L-R) Federal Police Acting Commissioner Andrew Colvin, New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn In response, one of the country’s rail operators welded shut the bins in its station and announced that it would soon completely remove them.(L-R) Federal Police Acting Commissioner Andrew Colvin, New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn In response, one of the country’s rail operators welded shut the bins in its station and announced that it would soon completely remove them.
Mr Abbott added: “These people, I regret to say, do not hate us for what we do, they hate us for who we are and how we live. In light of last night's raids, New South Wales Police have announced Operation Hammerhead - a "high viability policing operation" resulting in increased police presence "in public places and  and public transport hubs" primarily in metropolitan Sydney.
 
 
Operation Appleby #Sydney arrests #sydneyarrests pic.twitter.com/JfM77Mt5UM
“Operation Hammerhead will also patrol iconic locations such as the Harbour and its surrounding foreshores as well as sporting fixtures and other large scale public events,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.
Mr Abbott said that Australia's culture was the antithesis of that pursued by Isis.
“These people, I regret to say, do not hate us for what we do, they hate us for who we are and how we live,” Mr Abbott added, according to the Guardian.
“That’s what makes us a target, the fact that we are different from their view of what an ideal society should look like, the fact that we are free, we are pluralist, we are tolerant, we are welcoming, we are accepting.”“That’s what makes us a target, the fact that we are different from their view of what an ideal society should look like, the fact that we are free, we are pluralist, we are tolerant, we are welcoming, we are accepting.”
It is estimated that 60 Australian citizens are fighting for Isis and al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front in Iraq and Syria, while as many as 100 people in Australia are understood to be actively supporting the extremist group, recruiting and grooming fighters as well as providing funding.It is estimated that 60 Australian citizens are fighting for Isis and al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front in Iraq and Syria, while as many as 100 people in Australia are understood to be actively supporting the extremist group, recruiting and grooming fighters as well as providing funding.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said: “Right now is a time for calm. Commissioner Scipione said: “Right now is a time for calm.
“We need to let people know that they are safe, and certainly from our perspective, we know that the work this morning will ensure that all of those plans that may have been on foot have been thwarted.”“We need to let people know that they are safe, and certainly from our perspective, we know that the work this morning will ensure that all of those plans that may have been on foot have been thwarted.”
Additional reporting by Associated PressAdditional reporting by Associated Press