SYDNEY — Australian police thwarted an alleged Islamic State plot to abduct and behead a member of the public as officers detained 15 people in the nation’s largest-ever anti-terrorism operation.
Authorities carried out the pre-dawn raids in Sydney on Thursday after receiving intelligence that a senior Islamic State member was urging supporters in Australia to carry out “demonstration killings,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters.
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The operation, along with raids in Queensland state, came days after the government raised Australia’s terror alert to the highest level in a decade, citing the threat posed by local supporters of the Islamic State. Abbott, who will host world leaders at November’s Group of 20 summit in Brisbane, has committed 600 military personnel to the U.S.-led fight against the group in the Middle East.
“We are at serious risk from a terrorist attack,” Abbott said. “There are networks of people here in this country, who despite living here, despite enjoying the Australian way of life, they would do us harm.”
Omarjan Azari, 22, appeared in a Sydney court Thursday charged with preparing and planning for a terrorist act and with conspiring with Mohammad Baryalei, who is overseas and wanted by Australian police for alleged terrorism-related activity.
Prosecutor Michael Allnutt said the planned act was designed to “shock, horrify” and terrify the public. Defense lawyer Steven Boland said the allegations were based on one intercepted phone call. Azari, who didn’t apply for bail, was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned until Nov. 13.
Australia is strengthening laws against domestic supporters of extremist groups and says at least 60 of its citizens are fighting with militant groups in Syria and Iraq.
The government has said that 20 Australians have returned from fighting with jihadists abroad and about 100 more are funding or facilitating militants. The Australian newspaper last month ran a front-page photo posted on Twitter by Australian jihadist Khaled Sharrouf, who fled to Syria last year using his brother’s passport, showing a young boy holding what’s purported to be the severed head of a Syrian soldier.
Federal police on Sept. 10 arrested two Brisbane men for allegedly “recruiting, facilitating and funding people to travel to Syria to engage in hostile activities.” A Sydney-based money transfer company was suspended from trading this week on suspicion it was involved in terrorism financing.
Thursday’s raids were carried out by 800 officers in 12 suburbs in northwest Sydney, Australian Federal Police Acting Commissioner Andrew Colvin said.
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