A staunch ally in the US-led fight against terror in Syria and Iraq, Australia has remained on heightened alert for home-grown terror attacks for over two and a half years, arresting or jailing at least 57 suspects from 25 counter-terrorism operations.
The country however has seen four terror attacks despite 12 successful disruptions, including the murder of police accountant Curtis Cheng in November 2015.
Authorities on Friday raided several properties in Victoria state, arresting five self-radicalized men aged 21 to 26 years old for allegedly preparing a multi-mode terror attack targeting downtown Melbourne using explosives and other weapons, possibly on Christmas Day.
Two others, a 20-year-old woman and 26-year-old man were arrested, but later released without charge.
"In terms of events that we have seen over the past few years in Australia, this certainly concerns me more than any other event that I've seen," Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
Melbourne's iconic Flinders Station, Federation Square and St Paul's Anglican Cathedral were the likely targets, police said.
Australian authorities have remained on alert for a Christmas Day plot following Indonesia's Special Detachment raids that killed three terrorism suspects in West Jakarta on Tuesday and recent attacks in Europe where trucks have rammed into large celebratory gatherings.
"Islamist terrorism is a global challenge that affects us all. But we must not be cowed by the terrorists," Australian Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull said.
"I can assure all Australians that our police services right across the country, our intelligence agencies right across the country, and around the world, are at the highest state of alert."
Xinhua/china
23/12/16
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
No comments :
Post a Comment
Only News