The Korea Herald

피터빈트

Australian man charged over terrorist attack plot

By Korea Herald

Published : Dec. 25, 2014 - 22:12

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SYDNEY (AFP) ― An Australian man was charged Wednesday with possessing documents connected to a planned terrorist attack on government targets in Sydney, but police insisted people should not be afraid.

Sulayman Khalid, who also goes by the name Abu Bakr, was arrested following raids last week which uncovered a large number of documents, a rifle, and two shotguns.

He was charged with being in “possession of documents designed to facilitate a terrorist attack,” while a 21-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was accused of breaching a control order that prohibited him making phone calls.

Their arrests come on the back of a series of pre-dawn raids across Sydney and Brisbane in September as concern mounts about the flow of people to Iraq and Syria to join the Islamic State group and other jihadists.

After that operation, police said they had foiled a plot to “commit violent acts” in Australia, including a plan to behead a member of the public. More than 70 Australians are currently fighting for Islamic militants overseas. At least 20 have died and there are fears that increasing numbers of youths are being radicalised and could mount attacks at home.

“Certainly the documents talked a little bit about potential government targets,” said Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner for National Security Michael Phelan.

He said the targets were in Sydney, but did not go into detail.

“I am confident that we‘ve disrupted the activity that they were planning. And that is all I’m prepared to say at this particular point.”

Khalid and the second man were both remanded in custody and will face court again in February.