Sydney Terror Attack Foiled

[Adam Wilkinson]

TERROR PLOT FOILED

Seventeen men have been arrested and charged with terrorism related offences in Sydney and Melbourne, Australian Federal Police (AFP) say.

The men, eight from NSW and nine from Victoria, have been charged with a range of offences including sections of Commonwealth legislation that have not been previously used, an AFP spokesman said.

The arrests follow the execution of 22 search warrants across Sydney and Melbourne this morning where officers seized a range of material, including unidentified substances, firearms, travel documents, computers and backpacks," the spokesman said.

Police arrested eight people in NSW after executing warrants in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, Greenacre, Illawong, Punchbowl, Hoxton Park, Condell Park, Ingleburn, Belfield, Bankstown and Kemps Creek.

The nine from Victoria were arrested during raids in Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Preston, Coburg, Yarraville, Meadow Heights and Hadfield.

AFP Deputy Commissioner John Lawler said all the men had been charged under the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The charges included acts in preparation of a terrorist act, being a member of a terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.

One man had also been charged with directing a terrorist organisation, he said.

"By working collaboratively Australia's law enforcement and intelligence agencies have managed to disrupt the alleged activities of this group and therefore protect the Australian community from a potential terrorist threat," Mr Lawler said in a statement today.

NSW police Commissioner Ken Moroney said the arrests followed a lengthy operation where law enforcement and intelligence agencies had been monitoring and investigating "the activities of a group allegedly intent on carrying out what we assess as some sort of terrorist act in Australia."

"It will be alleged in court that following months of discussions, individuals had moved to the point of planning some sort of activity including the purchase of potentially dangerous materials," he said in the joint statement with the AFP.

The men arrested in NSW will appear in Sydney courts, yet to be allocated, later today.

The nine men from Victoria are to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

TERROR SUSPECT SHOT

A Sydney terror suspect is in a critical condition after being shot by police who claim he opened fire at them first.

The man aged in his 20s was shot in the neck by a police officer at Green Valley, in Sydney's south-west, at about 9am (AEDT) on Tuesday.

"I can confirm that one person of the alleged terrorist group fled from police in possession of a firearm," said Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison.

"He was confronted earlier this morning by police.

"While this investigation is the subject of an internal investigation by NSW authorities it will be alleged that the offender shot at police, to which police responded, shooting him in the neck and chest and I understand his position remains critical."

The wounded man was one of seven suspects arrested in a series of counter-terrorism raids in Sydney, police said.

Nine more were arrested and charged in Melbourne.

Assistant Commissioner Graeme Morgan said the man, carrying a bag, fired at least two shots at police when they approached him on Wilson Road at Green Valley.

He said police monitoring the man saw him leaving a motor vehicle near a mosque, carrying a bag.

"Police attending Wilson Road saw a man that was of interest and as they did ... witnesses have told police that he produced a firearm and fired at the police," Mr Morgan said.

"One officer was struck, we believe in the hand, and suffered a minor wound.

"One of the police officers returned fire and the person of interest to police was wounded in the neck.

"We can now confirm that the offender fired at least two shots at police and when the police fired back it was not the officer whose hand was injured in the attack."

The wounded suspect was being treated in Liverpool Hospital but his condition was unknown.

Police used a bomb disposal robot to investigate the contents of the bag the man was carrying, and said they had found a handgun.

"The bag also contained papers but no explosives," Mr Morgan said.

Police closed off the road and evacuated residents in the area while the bag was examined.

An independent investigation team from the State Crime Command has been established to investigate the circumstances of the shooting.

Mr Morgan would not comment on the terror raids in Sydney and Melbourne.

"The role of the State Crime Command here is to conduct a completely independent investigation of the shooting. That's the limit of the role we're performing here.

"We're not involved in the counter-terrorism operation that took place elsewhere in Sydney this morning."

[Mark Stapleton]

TERROR PLOT FOILED

Seventeen men have been arrested and charged with terrorism related offences in Sydney and Melbourne, Australian Federal Police (AFP) say.

The men, eight from NSW and nine from Victoria, have been charged with a range of offences including sections of Commonwealth legislation that have not been previously used, an AFP spokesman said.

The arrests follow the execution of 22 search warrants across Sydney and Melbourne this morning where officers seized a range of material, including unidentified substances, firearms, travel documents, computers and backpacks," the spokesman said.

Police arrested eight people in NSW after executing warrants in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, Greenacre, Illawong, Punchbowl, Hoxton Park, Condell Park, Ingleburn, Belfield, Bankstown and Kemps Creek.

The nine from Victoria were arrested during raids in Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Preston, Coburg, Yarraville, Meadow Heights and Hadfield.

AFP Deputy Commissioner John Lawler said all the men had been charged under the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The charges included acts in preparation of a terrorist act, being a member of a terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.

One man had also been charged with directing a terrorist organisation, he said.

"By working collaboratively Australia's law enforcement and intelligence agencies have managed to disrupt the alleged activities of this group and therefore protect the Australian community from a potential terrorist threat," Mr Lawler said in a statement today.

NSW police Commissioner Ken Moroney said the arrests followed a lengthy operation where law enforcement and intelligence agencies had been monitoring and investigating "the activities of a group allegedly intent on carrying out what we assess as some sort of terrorist act in Australia."

"It will be alleged in court that following months of discussions, individuals had moved to the point of planning some sort of activity including the purchase of potentially dangerous materials," he said in the joint statement with the AFP.

The men arrested in NSW will appear in Sydney courts, yet to be allocated, later today.

The nine men from Victoria are to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

TERROR SUSPECT SHOT

A Sydney terror suspect is in a critical condition after being shot by police who claim he opened fire at them first.

The man aged in his 20s was shot in the neck by a police officer at Green Valley, in Sydney's south-west, at about 9am (AEDT) on Tuesday.

"I can confirm that one person of the alleged terrorist group fled from police in possession of a firearm," said Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison.

"He was confronted earlier this morning by police.

"While this investigation is the subject of an internal investigation by NSW authorities it will be alleged that the offender shot at police, to which police responded, shooting him in the neck and chest and I understand his position remains critical."

The wounded man was one of seven suspects arrested in a series of counter-terrorism raids in Sydney, police said.

Nine more were arrested and charged in Melbourne.

Assistant Commissioner Graeme Morgan said the man, carrying a bag, fired at least two shots at police when they approached him on Wilson Road at Green Valley.

He said police monitoring the man saw him leaving a motor vehicle near a mosque, carrying a bag.

"Police attending Wilson Road saw a man that was of interest and as they did ... witnesses have told police that he produced a firearm and fired at the police," Mr Morgan said.

"One officer was struck, we believe in the hand, and suffered a minor wound.

"One of the police officers returned fire and the person of interest to police was wounded in the neck.

"We can now confirm that the offender fired at least two shots at police and when the police fired back it was not the officer whose hand was injured in the attack."

The wounded suspect was being treated in Liverpool Hospital but his condition was unknown.

Police used a bomb disposal robot to investigate the contents of the bag the man was carrying, and said they had found a handgun.

"The bag also contained papers but no explosives," Mr Morgan said.

Police closed off the road and evacuated residents in the area while the bag was examined.

An independent investigation team from the State Crime Command has been established to investigate the circumstances of the shooting.

Mr Morgan would not comment on the terror raids in Sydney and Melbourne.

"The role of the State Crime Command here is to conduct a completely independent investigation of the shooting. That's the limit of the role we're performing here.

"We're not involved in the counter-terrorism operation that took place elsewhere in Sydney this morning."

Adam,

I live in Roselands, which is between Lakemba and Wiley Park, and I heard those choppers hovering around on Monday night.

Looking forward with interest to the details of this plan emerging. I'm hearing the cops acted on a tip from a chemicals manufacturer. A fertilizer bomb may have been their intention.

[Adam Wilkinson]

TERROR PLOT FOILED

Seventeen men have been arrested and charged with terrorism related offences in Sydney and Melbourne, Australian Federal Police (AFP) say.

The men, eight from NSW and nine from Victoria, have been charged with a range of offences including sections of Commonwealth legislation that have not been previously used, an AFP spokesman said.

The arrests follow the execution of 22 search warrants across Sydney and Melbourne this morning where officers seized a range of material, including unidentified substances, firearms, travel documents, computers and backpacks," the spokesman said.

Police arrested eight people in NSW after executing warrants in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, Greenacre, Illawong, Punchbowl, Hoxton Park, Condell Park, Ingleburn, Belfield, Bankstown and Kemps Creek.

The nine from Victoria were arrested during raids in Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Preston, Coburg, Yarraville, Meadow Heights and Hadfield.

AFP Deputy Commissioner John Lawler said all the men had been charged under the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The charges included acts in preparation of a terrorist act, being a member of a terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.

One man had also been charged with directing a terrorist organisation, he said.

"By working collaboratively Australia's law enforcement and intelligence agencies have managed to disrupt the alleged activities of this group and therefore protect the Australian community from a potential terrorist threat," Mr Lawler said in a statement today.

NSW police Commissioner Ken Moroney said the arrests followed a lengthy operation where law enforcement and intelligence agencies had been monitoring and investigating "the activities of a group allegedly intent on carrying out what we assess as some sort of terrorist act in Australia."

"It will be alleged in court that following months of discussions, individuals had moved to the point of planning some sort of activity including the purchase of potentially dangerous materials," he said in the joint statement with the AFP.

The men arrested in NSW will appear in Sydney courts, yet to be allocated, later today.

The nine men from Victoria are to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

TERROR SUSPECT SHOT

A Sydney terror suspect is in a critical condition after being shot by police who claim he opened fire at them first.

The man aged in his 20s was shot in the neck by a police officer at Green Valley, in Sydney's south-west, at about 9am (AEDT) on Tuesday.

"I can confirm that one person of the alleged terrorist group fled from police in possession of a firearm," said Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison.

"He was confronted earlier this morning by police.

"While this investigation is the subject of an internal investigation by NSW authorities it will be alleged that the offender shot at police, to which police responded, shooting him in the neck and chest and I understand his position remains critical."

The wounded man was one of seven suspects arrested in a series of counter-terrorism raids in Sydney, police said.

Nine more were arrested and charged in Melbourne.

Assistant Commissioner Graeme Morgan said the man, carrying a bag, fired at least two shots at police when they approached him on Wilson Road at Green Valley.

He said police monitoring the man saw him leaving a motor vehicle near a mosque, carrying a bag.

"Police attending Wilson Road saw a man that was of interest and as they did ... witnesses have told police that he produced a firearm and fired at the police," Mr Morgan said.

"One officer was struck, we believe in the hand, and suffered a minor wound.

"One of the police officers returned fire and the person of interest to police was wounded in the neck.

"We can now confirm that the offender fired at least two shots at police and when the police fired back it was not the officer whose hand was injured in the attack."

The wounded suspect was being treated in Liverpool Hospital but his condition was unknown.

Police used a bomb disposal robot to investigate the contents of the bag the man was carrying, and said they had found a handgun.

"The bag also contained papers but no explosives," Mr Morgan said.

Police closed off the road and evacuated residents in the area while the bag was examined.

An independent investigation team from the State Crime Command has been established to investigate the circumstances of the shooting.

Mr Morgan would not comment on the terror raids in Sydney and Melbourne.

"The role of the State Crime Command here is to conduct a completely independent investigation of the shooting. That's the limit of the role we're performing here.

"We're not involved in the counter-terrorism operation that took place elsewhere in Sydney this morning."

Adam,

I live in Roselands, which is between Lakemba and Wiley Park, and I heard those choppers hovering around on Monday night.

Looking forward with interest to the details of this plan emerging. I'm hearing the cops acted on a tip from a chemicals manufacturer. A fertilizer bomb may have been their intention.

Mark, there are reports of more raids overnight and throughout the day, it's good to see were getting rid of some of the scum in our communities, excuse me, but it is hard to presume their innocence when we see their supporters attacking the media and another one of them fleeing through bushland.

If it was a chemicals manufacturer, maybe it payed off to 'Be alert but not alarmed'..still think the booklets were a waste of taxpayers money though. I will post the latest news on the raids asap.

Edited November 9, 2005 by Adam Wilkinson

[Adam Wilkinson]

Australia's biggest-ever counter terrorism operation didn't end with yesterday's early morning raids.

Last night Federal police, accompanied by hazardous materials experts, searched another home in Sydney's southwest. No arrests were made.

Again, it was part of the wider operation that's been underway for the past 18 months and which led to the arrests of 17 men yesterday, one of whom remains in hospital with a serious gun shot wound to the neck.

Those arrested are accused of belonging to an unnamed terrorist organisation and planning a major attack on an unknown target.