Following a flurry of anti-terror searches throughout Sydney, five adolescents were charged on Thursday as hundreds of police descended on a network they claimed presented a “unacceptable risk” to the public.
While looking into “associates” of a 16-year-old kid who cut an Assyrian bishop in the face during a church sermon in Sydney last week, police made a number of arrests on Wednesday night.
Police claimed that two of the adolescents were accused with having “violent extremist material” in their possession, while three of the minors were detained on Thursday morning with plotting to organize or prepare for a “terrorist act”.
A member of the group, ages 14 to 17, was accused of having “custody of a knife in a public place”.
Thirteen different places in Sydney were searched by over four hundred cops.
According to police, the adolescents belonged to a “wider network of associates and peers” and were “religiously motivated” young people.
On Wednesday, Dave Hudson, the deputy commissioner of police, stated that “intense” network surveillance presented a concerning picture that required prompt action.
“Their behavior, whilst under surveillance, led us to believe that, if they were to commit any act, we would not be able to prevent that,” he told reporters following the searches.
“And we believed, through the investigation, that it was likely that an attack might ensue.”
A 16-year-old suspect slashed Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in the head and chest during a sermon that was streamed live last week.
With nearly 200,000 followers on social media, Emmanuel has inspired many with his critiques of Islam, lockdowns, and the Covid-19 vaccine.
Thursday saw the Australian National Imams Council issue a warning about the potential of further alienating “disillusioned youth” due to police actions that are abusive.
Leave a Reply