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Australia terror police arrest two 'beheading' suspects Australia police arrest two 'terror 'suspects
(35 minutes later)
Counter-terrorism police in the Australian city of Sydney have arrested two men who were allegedly planning a public beheading. Counter-terrorism police in the Australian city of Sydney have arrested two men who were allegedly planning a terror attack.
The pair are due to appear in court later on Wednesday.The pair are due to appear in court later on Wednesday.
Officers are reported to have seized a hunting knife and a flag from them. A hunting knife and an Islamic State flag were seized from them, police say.
Australia has been on a terror alert since last year. In December two out of 18 hostages held hostage by gunman Man Haron Monis were killed along with him when police stormed a cafe in Sydney.Australia has been on a terror alert since last year. In December two out of 18 hostages held hostage by gunman Man Haron Monis were killed along with him when police stormed a cafe in Sydney.
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says that the arrests on Wednesday are not the first case involving an alleged plan to carry out a public beheading in Australia. Police that an Islamic State (IS) flag had been found at the home of the suspects in the western Sydney suburb of Fairfield and that they had foiled an imminent attack that was due to have been carried on Tuesday.
"We will allege that both of these men were preparing to do this act yesterday (Tuesday)," said New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn.
She said that the arrests were "indicative of the threat" the security agencies now have to deal with, which police say represents a "new paradigm".
'Plot foiled''Plot foiled'
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says that the latest arrests are not the first case involving an alleged plan to carry out a public beheading in Australia.
In September a man was arrested and charged in connection with a plot to behead a member of the public and drape them in an Islamic State flag in the centre of Sydney.In September a man was arrested and charged in connection with a plot to behead a member of the public and drape them in an Islamic State flag in the centre of Sydney.
The arrests were related to a series of counter-terrorism raids throughout that month, officials said.The arrests were related to a series of counter-terrorism raids throughout that month, officials said.
After raids in Sydney and Brisbane, police said they had foiled a plot to "commit violent acts" in Australia.After raids in Sydney and Brisbane, police said they had foiled a plot to "commit violent acts" in Australia.
At least 11 people have now been arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences since the start of the campaign, which began soon after Australia's terror threat level was raised to "high" for the first time.At least 11 people have now been arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences since the start of the campaign, which began soon after Australia's terror threat level was raised to "high" for the first time.
Many of those targeted in the raids are alleged to be linked to Islamic State, and are accused of helping people travel overseas to fight with extremists. Many of those targeted in the raids are alleged to be linked to IS, and are accused of helping people travel overseas to fight with extremists.