Authorities in Australia announced early Thursday the uncovering and disruption of a major terror threat that involved, among other plans, a plot to behead random members of the public. Australia had recently raised their terror alert, indicating that intelligence believed a threat was imminent and dangerous.
The plot was lead and facilitated by an Australian citizen who is “quite senior” in the ISIS organization. Australia, like the United States and Great Britain, has been expressing growing concern in recent weeks about native citizens joining the Islamic terror group.
The plot was foiled as part of large and ongoing operation. Fox reports:
Australian counterterrorism forces detained 15 people Thursday in a series of suburban raids after receiving intelligence that the Islamic State movement was planning public beheadings in two Australian cities to demonstrate its reach.
About 800 federal and state police officers raided more than a dozen properties across 12 Sydney suburbs as part of the operation — the largest in Australian history, Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Andrew Colvin told the Associated Press. Separate raids in the eastern cities of Brisbane and Logan were also conducted.
The press conference with authorities stressed the need for calm, but authorities made clear there was a major threat and that the conspirators are in custody. One of the plotters will be appearing in court today.