Unprecedented Terror Raids Underway After Reports a ‘Beheading or Mass Shooting’ May Have Been Planned for Australia
Over 800 police officers have descended on homes in Sydney and Brisbane this morning in the largest terror raids in Australian history.
Sources in Canberra have told 9NEWS that a terrorist cell was close to launching an attack on Australian soil that could have included a beheading or mass shooting.
Police executed search warrants on 12 properties in Sydney at Beecroft, Bellavista, Guildford, Merrylands, Northmead, Wentworthville, Marsfield, Westmead, Castle Hill, Revesby, Bass Hill and Regents Park
Guildford resident Mark Anderson told Fairfax Media he heard police officers on a loudspeaker for up to 15 minutes during the raids.
Fifteen people have been taken into custody following the raids and one has been charged.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he had “committed a lot of staff” to the raids.
“This has been a big operation and it reflects what we’re dealing with right now,” Commissioner Scipione said.
It’s believed those arrested could have links to a Brisbane man now facing terrorism related charges.
Raids have also taken place in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt East, Logan and Underwood.
The raids are a joint counter-terrorism operation involving NSW Police, Queensland Police and Australian Federal Police (AFP) called “Operation Appleby”.
Up to 600 police were involved including PolAir and ASIO, and paramedics were on the ground assisting police.
Police will be investigating if those taken into custody have links to Islamic State.
Yesterday, a Lakemba money transfer business owned by the sister and brother-in-law of convicted Sydney terrorist Khaled Sharrouf was shut down.
Authorities suspected it was sending millions of dollars to the Middle East to finance terrorism.
Last week, Brisbane man Omar Succarieh, 31, was arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences following a raid at an Islamic bookshop in Logan.
He’s accused of fundraising for Syria-based extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra and helping another man, Agim Kruezi, obtain funds to fight for a terror organisation overseas.
Succarieh, who is due to apply for bail in court today, is believed to be the brother of Ahmed Succarieh, who reportedly became Australia’s first suicide bomber in Syria last year.
Logan man Kruezi, 22, has alleged links to the Islamic State group.
There are about 60 Australians believed to be fighting in Iraq and Syria with groups such as Islamic State, while another 100 are suspected of providing support from Australia.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott lifted the country’s terror alert to high last Friday.
AFP Acting Chief Commissioner Andrew Colvin and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione are due to provide an update on the operation at 9.30am (AEST). It will be live streamed on 9news.com.au.
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