Anti-Terror Officers Detain 15 in Australia’s Largest Raids

By Edward Johnson September 17, 2014

Australian police detained 15 people in the nation’s largest-ever counter-terrorism operation, disrupting a group that was allegedly planning to carry out random attacks on members of the public.

One person was charged following the pre-dawn raids by 800 officers in 12 suburbs in northwest Sydney, Australian Federal Police Acting Commissioner Andrew Colvin told reporters today. The group allegedly planned to abduct someone, drape them in an Islamic State flag, and behead them, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported, citing court documents.

The operation, along with raids in three suburbs 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 Islamic State extremists. Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who will host world leaders at November’s Group of 20 summit in Brisbane, is strengthening laws against domestic supporters of extremist groups and says at least 60 Australian citizens are fighting with militant groups in Syria and Iraq.

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“It is the largest operation of its type undertaken in Australia’s history,” Colvin said. A person charged with “serious terrorism-related offenses” will appear in a Sydney court later today, Colvin said.

Obama’s Coalition

Abbott said at the weekend Australia will deploy 400 air force personnel and 200 special forces soldiers to a U.S. military base in the United Arab Emirates along with fighter jets, as a coalition formed by President Barack Obama prepares to step up the fight against Islamic State.

The group has released videos showing the beheadings of three foreign hostages -- U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Joel Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines.

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Today’s anti-terrorism operation “is very much about police disrupting the potential for violence against the Australian community at the earliest possible opportunity,” Colvin said.

The government has said that at least 60 Australians are fighting with terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq, 20 have returned from fighting abroad and about 100 more are funding or facilitating militants.

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.”

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Terrorism Financing

A Sydney-based money transfer company was suspended from trading yesterday on suspicion it was involved in terrorism financing.

Abbott raised the National Terrorism Public Alert System to high from medium on Sept. 12, the second-highest level, indicating the government and intelligence authorities believe an attack is likely.

Raising the alert will mean increased security screenings at airports, ports, government buildings and public gatherings such as major sporting events, including this month’s Australian football final in Melbourne that attracts up to 100,000 supporters.

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Abbott’s Liberal-National coalition government last month committed an additional A$630 million over four years to counter-terrorism measures. It plans to introduce security laws that will allow the arrest and jailing of returning foreign fighters while preventing extremists from departing Australia.

To contact the reporter on this story: Edward Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edward Johnson at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net Iain McDonald

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