Australian Police carry out raids across Sydney after foiling aircraft attack
Australia remains on high alert after the Australian Federal Police foiled an alleged plot to bring down a commercial airline from Jakarta to Sydney through the alleged use of either toxic gas or an explosive device.
Australian authorities arrested four men they say were connected to a plot that was seeking to bomb an airplane.
Police said the plot was “Islamic-inspired” but they didn’t tie it to a specific terrorist group.
“In recent days, law enforcement has been become aware of information that suggested some people in Sydney were planning to commit a terrorist attack using an improvised devise,” Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said.
According to Australia’s ABC News, police found objects and materials that could be used to make a bomb during a house raid in the suburb of Surry Hills.
Searches also reportedly took place in Wiley Park, Lakemba and Punchbowl.
Four men, Lebanese Australians, two fathers and two sons, were arrested Sunday following law enforcement raids Saturday that, according to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, were intended to “disrupt and prevent” planned terror attacks.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Andrew Colvin told reporters on Monday that the plot specifics were still being investigated.
“What you are seeing at the moment is making sure that there is extra vigilance, to make sure that we aren’t cutting any corners in our security, to make sure that we are absolutely focused on our security,” Mr Colvin said.
