Australian police thwart random beheading plot
They raided more than a dozen properties across Sydney and were holding six people and have identified the suspected ringleader.
The raids, involving 800 federal and state police officers — the largest in the country’s history — came in response to intelligence that an Islamic State group leader in the Middle East was calling on Australian supporters to kill, according to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Abbott was asked about reports that the detainees were planning to behead a random person in Sydney. “That’s the intelligence we received,” he said.
“The exhortations — quite direct exhortations — were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in ISIL, to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country.”
He added: “This is not just suspicion, this is intent and that’s why the police and security agencies decided to act in the way they have.”
New South Wales police did not say why nine of the detained people were released, or whether they would face charges later.
The raids came just days after the country raised its terrorism threat to the second-highest level in response to the domestic threat posed by supporters of the Islamic State group.
At the time, Abbott stressed that there was no information suggesting that a terror attack was imminent.
Later, attorney general George Brandis confirmed that a person born in Afghanistan who had spent time in Australia and is now working with the Islamic State in the Middle East ordered supporters in Australia to behead people and videotape the killings.
“If the... police had not acted today, there is a likelihood that this would have happened,” Brandis said.
Abbott and Brandis did not name the Australian. But Mohammad Ali Baryalei, who is believed to be Australia’s most senior member of the Islamic State group, was named as a co-conspirator in court documents filed yesterday.
Police have issued an arrest warrant for Baryalei, a 33-year-old former Sydney nightclub bouncer.
One of those detained, 22-year-old Omarjan Azari of Sydney, appeared briefly in a Sydney court.
Prosecutor Michael Allnutt said Azari was involved in a plan to “gruesomely” kill a randomly selected person — something that was “clearly designed to shock and horrify” the public.
Azari is charged with conspiracy to prepare for a terrorist attack.
Azari is accused of conspiring with Baryalei and others between May and September to prepare for a terrorist attack.
Allnutt said the charge stemmed from the interception of a phone call a couple of days ago.
Azari did not apply for bail and did not enter a plea. His next court appearance was set for November 13.
His attorney, Steve Boland, said the allegation against his client was based “on one phone call”.
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