TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Australian Federal Police (AFP), along with Queensland and News South Wales (NSW) police has raided a number of properties across Sydney and Brisbane on Thursday, September 18, 2014, in the biggest counter-terrorism raid in Australian history.
More than 600 officers from across a number of police departments raided a number of homes that are suspected to be linked to hardline Islamist organisation Islamic State (IS), in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A joint police operation was launched in Sydney's northwest this morning, involving members of NSW police and the AFP," said a police statement, as quoted by Xinhua. "We have arrests warrants that justifies this morning's arrests across Sydney's northwest."
Police have confirmed that a number of arrests were made, but stopped short of detailing the exact number. Eyewitnesses reported that tens of suspected terrorists were brought into police custody.
Police also raided a number of homes in Brisbane, after arresting two men with suspected terrorism links in Brisbane's northeast last week.
The raids were done less than a week after Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) raised their risk assessment of terror threat level to 'high' - the first time it has done so in 11 years.
The operations were conducted after media reports that a number of fanatical Muslims are planning an attack on Australian soil surfaced last week.
ANTARANEWS
