Malcolm Turnbull says the operation was in order to prevent ‘terrorist attacks in Australia’

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Malcolm Turnbull says counter-terrorism agencies have foiled a plot to “bring down” a plane in a terrorist attack in Australia.

Four men were arrested on Saturday night when heavily armed counter-terrorism officers raided four Sydney properties over an alleged plot to blow up an aircraft.

The prime minister said increased security measures have been placed on all Australian airports.

The Australian federal police commissioner Andrew Colvin said officers became aware people in Sydney were planning to commit a terrorist attack using an “improvised device”.

Commissioner Colvin said the four men in custody had not been charged by police.

Police believed the attack would target the Australian aviation industry at a major airport.’

Saturday’s raids on properties in the inner-city suburb of Surry Hills, and in Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl, were carried out by the joint counter-terrorism team, which “relate to an ongoing investigation”.

As many as 40 riot squad officers were seen at a house in 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.

The prime minister said he was being briefed on the operation’s progress by security agencies.

“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.

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 several “lone wolf” attacks have occurred, including a December 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead.

In June, Melbourne police raided five addresses after a man killed a building clerk, took an escort hostage and injured three officers, before dying in the shootout with police.

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.

• On 31 July 2017 this article was corrected. A previous version wrongly said a man in Melbourne killed an escort he had taken hostage.</s>Police in Australia have raided properties in several Sydney suburbs and arrested four men suspected of plotting a terrorist attack.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the counter-terrorism raids were designed to stop "terrorist attacks in Australia".

Fairfax Media, News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the raids were related to a bomb plot involving aircraft.

The operation was carried out by the Australian Federal Police, New South Wales state police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the country's domestic spy agency.

Seven Network television reported that 40 riot squad officers stormed an inner Sydney house before an explosives team found a suspicious device.</s>An Australian Federal Police officer, right, and a New South Wales policeman detain a person during a raid on a house in Sydney, September 18, 2014. — NYT picSYDNEY, July 29 — Australian counter-terrorism police were conducting raids late today across several Sydney suburbs aimed at disrupting plans for “terrorist attacks”.

“These operations are designed to disrupt and prevent plans to undertake terrorist attacks in Australia,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in an emailed statement.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the raids by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team in four suburbs in different parts of the city “relate to an ongoing investigation.”

Both Turnbull’s office and the AFP declined to provide further information as the raids were still in progress.

“The public should be reassured that our security and intelligence agencies are working tirelessly to keep us safe,” Turnbull said.

Australia, a staunch ally of the United States, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown 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 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead.

About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organizations such as Islamic State, Australia’s Immigration Minister said last month.

Australian newspaper publisher News Ltd reported up to 40 riot squad officers were seen swooping on a house in the inner city suburb of Surry Hills. — Reuters</s>SYDNEY — Australian officials say police have raided properties in several Sydney suburbs and arrested four men suspected of plotting a terrorist attack.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the counter-terrorism raids Saturday were designed to stop “terrorist attacks in Australia.”

 Turnbull the raids were related to a bomb plot involving aircraft and that police had recovered significant evidence.

The operation was carried out by the Australian Federal police, New South Wales state police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the country’s domestic spy agency.</s>Police raided properties in several Sydney suburbs and arrested four men on Saturday on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack, officials said.

The raids related to a bomb plot involving aircraft, Fairfax Media, News Corp. and the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the counterterrorism raids on Saturday afternoon were "designed to disrupt and prevent plans to undertake terrorist attacks in Australia."

The operation was carried out by the Australian Federal Police, the New South Wales state police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the country's domestic spy agency.

"Four men have been taken into custody and are assisting police with their enquiries," a police statement said.

Seven Network television reported that 40 riot squad officers stormed an inner-Sydney house before an explosives team found a suspicious device.

Turnbull said he was briefed on the progress of the operation by security agency heads.

"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," the prime minister said in a statement.

Turnbull is expected to provide further details on Sunday.</s>Police said they disrupted a terrorist plot to bring down an airplane and arrested four men on Saturday in raids in Sydney suburbs.</s>The Australian Federal Police are conducting major counter-terrorism investigations in Sydney.

One man has been arrested and multiple homes have been raided during the ongoing terror-related operations.

The raids are being conducted in Surry Hills, where streets have been closed and homes have been evacuated. Other raids are taking place in Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl.

A police spokesperson told HuffPost Australia the main concern is the safety of the community.

"The News South Wales counter terrorism team can confirm it is conducting operational activities," a spokesperson said.

"This activity relates to an ongoing investigation. The safety of the community and police members are the primary consideration during this activity."

More to come.</s>SYDNEY: Australian counter-terrorism police were conducting raids across several Sydney suburbs late on Saturday.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the "operational activity" by the Sydney Joint Counter Terrorism Team "relates to an ongoing investigation."

"The safety of the community and police members are the primary consideration during this activity," the AFP said in a press release, declining to provide further information as the raids were still in progress.

The raids were being carried out in four suburbs in different parts of the city, police said.

Australia, a staunch ally of the United States, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown 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 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead.

About 100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organizations such as Islamic State, Australia's Immigration Minister said last month.

Australian newspaper publisher News Ltd reported up to 40 riot squad officers were seen swooping on a house in the inner city suburb of Surry Hills.</s>CANBERRA, Australia – Police disrupted a terrorist plot to bring down an airplane and arrested four men on Saturday in raids on homes in several Sydney suburbs, the prime minister said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said security had been increased at Sydney Airport since Thursday because of the plot. The increased security measures had been extended to all major international and domestic terminals around Australia overnight.

“I can report last night that there has been a major joint counterterrorism operation to disrupt a terrorist plot to bring down an airplane,” Turnbull told reporters. “The operation is continuing.”

READ MORE: Australian police could get greater powers in ‘terrorism related’ incidents

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colivn said details were scant on the specifics of the attack, the location and timing.

“In recent days, law enforcement has been become aware of information that suggested some people in Sydney were planning to commit a terrorist attack using an improvised devise,” Colvin said.

“We are investigating information indicating the aviation industry was potentially a target of that attack,” he added.

Turnbull advised travellers in Australia to arrive at Australian airports earlier than usual – two hours before departure – to allow for extra security screening and to minimize carry-on baggage.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan said the plot was the 13th significant threat disrupted by police since Australia’s terrorist threat level was elevated in 2014. Five plots have been executed.

“The primary threat to Australia still remains lone actors, but the events overnight remind us that there is still the ability for people to have sophisticated plots and sophisticated attacks still remain a real threat,” Keenan said.” In light of this information, it’s very important that everyone in Australia remains vigilant.”

READ MORE: Mother slams Donald Trump for labelling daughter’s killing in Australia as terrorism

The operation was carried out by the Australian Federal Police, the New South Wales state police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the country’s main domestic spy agency. The investigation could continue for days, Colvin said.

Seven Network television reported that 40 riot squad officers wearing gas masks stormed an inner-Sydney house before an explosives team found a suspicious device.

A woman led from a raid by police with her head covered told Nine Network Television: “I love Australia.”

None of the four suspects arrested in five raids had been charged, police said.</s>Sydney: Four men accused of plotting to bring down a plane planned to use poisonous gas or a crude bomb disguised as a meat mincer, reports said on Monday, with Australian officials calling preparations "advanced".

The men -- reportedly two Lebanese-Australian fathers and their sons -- were arrested in raids across Sydney on Saturday evening.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph said they allegedly planned to carry the device on board a commercial flight from Sydney to a Middle East destination as hand luggage.

It said the idea was to use wood scrapings and explosive material inside a piece of kitchen equipment such as a mincing machine.

The Sydney Morning Herald also reported that a mincer was being examined, while The Australian newspaper cited multiple sources as saying it was a "non-traditional" device that could have emitted a toxic sulphur-based gas.

This, it said, would have killed or immobilised everyone on the aircraft.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the plans were "advanced" but refused to comment on the conflicting claims over the method of attack.

"I have to respect the integrity of the investigations," he said.

"But I can say that certainly, the police will allege they had the intent and were developing the capability.

"There will obviously be more to say over coming days. It will be alleged that this was an Islamist, extremist terrorist motivation."

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin on Sunday said the aviation industry was potentially a target and that an improvised explosive device was involved.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan on Monday called the plans "quite sophisticated".

"It was a plot to bring down an aircraft with the idea of smuggling a device on to it to enable them to do that," he said.

A magistrate late Sunday gave police an additional seven days to detain the men, who have not been officially named, without charge.

Police continued to gather evidence Monday at the five homes raided, warning the investigation would be "very long and protracted".

TV footage on Saturday showed riot police moving into a terraced house in the inner-city suburb of Surry Hills, with a man with a bandage on his head being led away by authorities, draped in a blanket.

A woman at the address denied they had any link to terrorism.

Security has been strengthened at major domestic and international airports across Australia since the raids, with passengers asked to arrive early and to limit their baggage.

Australia`s national terror alert level was raised on September 2014 amid concerns over attacks by individuals inspired by organisations such as Islamic State.

A total of 12 attacks, before the latest one, have been prevented in the past few years, while 70 people have been charged.

Several terror attacks have taken place in Australia in recent years, including a Sydney cafe siege in 2014 that saw two hostages killed.
Australian federal police conduct raids in four separate suburbs of Sydney, detaining individuals and confiscating materials involved in a suspected terrorist plot to bomb an aircraft.