Beheading plot IS suspects detained in Australia

POLICE claim to have thwarted a plot to carry out beheadings in Australia by supporters of the fanatical ­Islamic State (IS) terrorist group by detaining 15 people and ­raiding more than a dozen properties across Sydney.

A police officer, one of 800 involved in yesterdays raids, interrogates one of the suspects. Picture: Reuters

The raids involving 800 police officers – the largest in Australian history – came in response to intelligence that an IS leader in the Middle East was calling on Australian supporters to kill, said Prime Minister Tony Abbott yesterday.

Talking about whether the detainees were planning to behead someone in Sydney, Mr ­Abbott said: “That’s the intelligence we received. 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.”

Isil refers to the al-Qaeda splinter group of Sunni militants in Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which now calls itself Islamic State or IS.

“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,” Mr Abbott said.

The raids came just days after Australia raised its terrorism threat to the second-highest level in response to the domestic threat posed by supporters of IS. At the time, Mr Abbott stressed there was no information ­suggesting a terror attack was imminent.

Yesterday, attorney general George Brandis confirmed that a person born in Afghanistan who had spent time in Australia and is now working with IS 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,” Mr Brandis said.

Mr Abbott and Mr Brandis did not name the Australian. But Mohammad Ali Baryalei, who is believed to be Australia’s most senior IS member, was named as a co-conspirator in court documents filed yesterday.

Police have issued an arrest warrant for the 33-year-old former Sydney nightclub ­doorman.

One of those detained, Omarjan Azari, 22, from Sydney, appeared briefly in a city 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. That plan involved an “unusual level of fanaticism,” he said.

Azari is charged with conspiracy to prepare for a terrorist attack.

In court documents, Azari was accused of conspiring with ­Baryalei and others between May and September to prepare for a terrorist attack. Mr Allnutt said the charge stemmed from the interception of a phone call a few days ago.

Azari did not apply for bail and did not enter a plea. His next court appearance was set for 13 November.

His lawyer, Steve Boland, said during the hearing that the allegation against his client was based “on one phone call”.

Dozens of police searched Azari’s home and a car parked across the street from his house. One officer pulled a memo out of the car from the Australian National Imams Council outlining concerns about Australia’s new anti-terrorism proposals.

A second man was charged last night in connection with the raids.

The 24-year-old, who police did not name, was 
char­ged with possessing ammunition without a licence and unauthorised possession of a prohibited weapon. He was ­released on bail and ordered to appear in court next week.

Nine of those detained were later released, New South Wales police said.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s director-general, David Irvine, said the threat of terrorism in ­Australia had been rising over the past year, mainly due to Australians joining IS to fight in Syria and Iraq.

“Police believe that this group that we have executed this ­operation on today had the intention and had started to carry out planning to commit violent acts here in Australia,” said federal police deputy commissioner Andrew Colvin. “Those violent acts particularly related to random acts against members of the public.”

Police declined to reveal exact details of the attack they believe was being plotted. New South Wales police commissioner Andrew Scipione said only that it was to be carried out against a member of the public on the street and was at “a very high level”.

“Right now is a time for calm,” Mr Scipione said. “We need to let people know that they are safe, and certainly from our perspective, we know that the work this morning will ensure that all of those plans that may have been afoot have been thwarted.”