Over the past week, nearly 900 police officers were involved in synchronized anti-terrorism raids in Sydney and Brisbane, the largest anti-terrorism campaign in Australian history. 

 

15 suspected terrorists have been taken into custody, including one who was allegedly behind the plot to abduct a random member of the Sydney public and behead them in the street. Of the 15 arrested, 9 have since been released but are under continued surveillance by law enforcement officers. 

 

In addition to the street beheading plot, a plot was made to attack parliament house. As a precautionary, security has been beefed up in Canberra (where parliament house is located) and more law enforcement officers are set to patrol high population areas and events all over the country. 

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-18/authorities-thwart-beheading-plot-in-australias-biggest-raid/5754276

http://www.news.com.au/national/australian-terror-raids-uncover-plot-to-attack-parliament-house/story-fncynjr2-1227063518810

 

I'm greatly concerned about the safety of Australian citizens now that our terror threat level has been increased (from moderate to high) and these raids have taken place. I've been keeping up with the news in Iraq for quite some time now but this has hit very close to home. That being said, I'm glad the beheading plot was foiled before it could be put into action. 

You steered away from mentioning ISIS (which is clearly responsible for this there) in your post. Was that on purpose?

You steered away from mentioning ISIS (which is clearly responsible for this there) in your post. Was that on purpose?

I didn't feel the need to mention Islamic State in my post because it was all over the news articles I linked. This topic was mainly intended to focus on the raids themselves rather than those responsible but either-way works. 

I can only imagine your concern being so close to home, this is a interesting time (lack of better phrase) in our, hell, basically world, there is unrest every where. Remember the days of being a child with no concerns but food and candy? I miss it no one told me how much it sucked to grow up. Between school wife kids jobs dogs trucks and hobbies there is no rest and now the world is unraveling it seems, when will it end... Ha it never will it never, just look throughout history, this has continually happened. When is someone going to find the genie in the bottle and wish for world peace?

Well, since they got them, it's good. I don't even remember any significant terrorist activity in Australia... Thanks god for that

Well, since they got them, it's good. I don't even remember any significant terrorist activity in Australia... Thanks god for that

According to a report from June this year, Australia has the largest number of citizens fighting for Islamic State. I'm not sure if this is still the case now as I haven't been able to find any recent articles, but it's still a scary thought. 

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/australia-is-major-contributor-of-isis-fighters-2014-6

 

For the most part though, terrorist activity here is fairly low. Especially where I live (Perth). 

According to a report from June this year, Australia has the largest number of citizens fighting for Islamic State. I'm not sure if this is still the case now as I haven't been able to find any recent articles, but it's still a scary thought. 

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/australia-is-major-contributor-of-isis-fighters-2014-6

 

For the most part though, terrorist activity here is fairly low. Especially where I live (Perth). 

yeah, many people from civilized countries are in ISIS. The more of them go out there, the less will come back, I think,, and those will be met by your security services. Hope there's no supply lanes from Australia to Iraq, though. 

Update on this. Islamic State is now calling for direct terrorist attacks against Australia and other western countries. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/islamic-state-leader-calls-for-attacks-on-australia-in-new-audio-message/story-e6frg6n6-1227066768232

 

Below are some rather disturbing quotes from an audio message, taken from the news article above that justifies the killing of civilians. 

 

“If you can kill a disbelieving American or European — especially the spiteful and filthy French — or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be,” 

 

"Do not ask for anyone’s advice and do not seek anyone’s verdict. Kill the disbeliever whether he is civilian or military, for they have the same ruling."

 

“Both of them are disbelievers. Both of them are considered to be waging war [the civilian by belonging to a state waging war against the Muslims].”

 

According to a report from June this year, Australia has the largest number of citizens fighting for Islamic State. I'm not sure if this is still the case now as I haven't been able to find any recent articles, but it's still a scary thought. 

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/australia-is-major-contributor-of-isis-fighters-2014-6

 

For the most part though, terrorist activity here is fairly low. Especially where I live (Perth). 

scary

Edited September 22, 201411 yr by SlipsshodLAKER

I think this should start getting the governments more involved into stopping ISIS.

 

Update on this. Islamic State is now calling for direct terrorist attacks against Australia and other western countries. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/islamic-state-leader-calls-for-attacks-on-australia-in-new-audio-message/story-e6frg6n6-1227066768232

 

Below are some rather disturbing quotes from an audio message, taken from the news article above that justifies the killing of civilians. 

 

“If you can kill a disbelieving American or European — especially the spiteful and filthy French — or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be,” 

 

"Do not ask for anyone’s advice and do not seek anyone’s verdict. Kill the disbeliever whether he is civilian or military, for they have the same ruling."

 

“Both of them are disbelievers. Both of them are considered to be waging war [the civilian by belonging to a state waging war against the Muslims].”

 

Dang i think that all the countries being targeted by ISIS need to deploy ground forces in Iraq and Syria to stop them. Bombing them won't do much but a full blown military assault will deal some serious damage 

Me thinks these anti-terrorism raids are designed to distract from the Abbott Government's disastrous budget and the problems it has brought. Thoughts?

 

Cheers.

Me thinks these anti-terrorism raids are designed to distract from the Abbott Government's disastrous budget and the problems it has brought. Thoughts?

I think it's more about national security but I'm sure that's linked in a way (lol).

I think it's more about national security but I'm sure that's linked in a way (lol).

 

Fair enough. There was a cartoon in one of last weeks SMH's regarding the two.

 

Cheers.

I would love to go and kick their ass but I don't think the Australian armed forces are cabable of an assault like that on our own. It's not that we don't have the equipment to make it happen but we just don't have the man power. What other countries are being threatned like this? (other than the USA...who doesn't want to kill them haha)

What other countries are being threatned like this?

The video was aimed at every country that joined in coalition with the US to counter Islamic State. This includes, the United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada and many Middle Eastern countries. 

Rather than creating a new topic, anything significant relating to Islamic State and Australia will be posted here from now on. 

 

Last night, two Melbourne based counter terrorism police officers were stabbed after an 18 year old man, supposedly carrying an ISIS flag with him and hurling threats at the prime minster, attacked officers with a knife. He was shot dead by one of the two officers. Both officers remain in a stable condition in hospital.

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/man-shot-dead-two-counterterrorism-officers-stabbed-outside-endeavour-hills-police-station/story-fni0fee2-1227068293410

 

 *snip* "especially the spiteful and filthy French" *snip*

 

My feelings are hurt at the reading of this.

 

I never thought I would ever hear about Australia being targeted by those people, really. Considering how far Australia is from many of those conflicts, I thought it was a rather peaceful country (if I forget about the awful gigantic spiders and insects you have over there *shivers*). But really, it's very surprising, I didn't expect that. It really becomes a worldwide security problem. That coupled with the Ebola epidemy that keeps spreading makes the whole thing sounds like it might start to get a bit messy. And nasty. Luckily I live in a small city in the countryside so I don't fear to be bombed by some terrorists or whatever it could be, but still.

Edited September 24, 201411 yr by Hystery

Oh shit. Never thought that can happen in Australia, to be honest. Well, certainly shows how devoted and dangerous those zealots are. Scares me only to imagine what could happen in other Western countries that are located closer to the conflict. 

My feelings are hurt at the reading of this.

 

I never thought I would ever hear about Australia being targeted by those people, really. Considering how far Australia is from many of those conflicts, I thought it was a rather peaceful country (if I forget about the awful gigantic spiders and insects you have over there *shivers*). But really, it's very surprising, I didn't expect that. It really becomes a worldwide security problem. That coupled with the Ebola epidemy that keeps spreading makes the whole thing sounds like it might start to get a bit messy. And nasty. Luckily I live in a small city in the countryside so I don't fear to be bombed by some terrorists or whatever it could be, but still.

Islamic State really dislikes the French after the French labeled them as "Daesh" (which means to trample on/crush in Arabic) rather than ISIS (article here). Which to me, is what they should be called. 

 

As much as the giant spiders are a huge threat, Australia has been the target of terrorists for a long time now however no major terrorist attacks have taken place in quite some years. I happen to live in a semi-rural area of one of the most isolated cities on the planet, so I doubt terrorists will target my city but it's always in the back of my head.