Rotovia-
08-11-2005, 07:22
Do these arrests change your veiw on the new anti-terror laws? I'm personally still opposed, with renewed fever after the Commisioner commented on the Today Show this mornign the Anti-Terror laws probally didn't help, given this was a welve month investigation. Many reporters have disagreed with the AFP, though.
SYDNEY RAIDS
Earlier today, More than 400 ASIO agents and federal police raided at least 15 homes in south-west Sydney at about 2.30am, arresting six men.
"We believe ... that we've disrupted a large scale operation which, had it been allowed to go through to fruition, we certainly believe would have been catastrophic," Commissioner Moroney told the Nine Network.
"Our investigation does not identify a specific object or item or location at this point in time," he said.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma said the group was planning to make explosives.
"Intelligence was received that a group was making arrangements to stockpile chemicals and other materials in order to make explosives to carry out a terrorist attack," he said.
Police eventually arrested eight people in NSW after executing warrants in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, Greenacre, Illawong, Punchbowl, Hoxton Park, Condell Park, Ingleburn, Belfield, Bankstown and Kemps Creek.
MELBOURNE ARRESTS
Nine more were arrested in simultaneous raids in the Melbourne suburbs of Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Preston, Haberfield, Coberg, Yarraville, Meadow Heights, Hadfield and Mount Druitt.
AFP Deputy Commissioner John Lawler said all the men had been charged under the Criminal Code Act 1995 including acts in preparation of a terrorist act, being a member of a terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.
One man had also been charged with directing a terrorist organisation, he said.
Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon told a press conference this morning: "The group to which the men belonged doesn't have a name ... and had no specific target in mind."
An AFP spokesman said the arrests followed the execution of 22 search warrants across Sydney and Melbourne, where officers seized a range of material, including unidentified substances, firearms, travel documents, computers and backpacks.
The raids were the culmination of a 16-month operation and the suspects in Melbourne and Sydney were alleged to be working together, police said. linky (http://www.ninemsn.com.au)
SYDNEY RAIDS
Earlier today, More than 400 ASIO agents and federal police raided at least 15 homes in south-west Sydney at about 2.30am, arresting six men.
"We believe ... that we've disrupted a large scale operation which, had it been allowed to go through to fruition, we certainly believe would have been catastrophic," Commissioner Moroney told the Nine Network.
"Our investigation does not identify a specific object or item or location at this point in time," he said.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma said the group was planning to make explosives.
"Intelligence was received that a group was making arrangements to stockpile chemicals and other materials in order to make explosives to carry out a terrorist attack," he said.
Police eventually arrested eight people in NSW after executing warrants in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, Greenacre, Illawong, Punchbowl, Hoxton Park, Condell Park, Ingleburn, Belfield, Bankstown and Kemps Creek.
MELBOURNE ARRESTS
Nine more were arrested in simultaneous raids in the Melbourne suburbs of Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Preston, Haberfield, Coberg, Yarraville, Meadow Heights, Hadfield and Mount Druitt.
AFP Deputy Commissioner John Lawler said all the men had been charged under the Criminal Code Act 1995 including acts in preparation of a terrorist act, being a member of a terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.
One man had also been charged with directing a terrorist organisation, he said.
Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon told a press conference this morning: "The group to which the men belonged doesn't have a name ... and had no specific target in mind."
An AFP spokesman said the arrests followed the execution of 22 search warrants across Sydney and Melbourne, where officers seized a range of material, including unidentified substances, firearms, travel documents, computers and backpacks.
The raids were the culmination of a 16-month operation and the suspects in Melbourne and Sydney were alleged to be working together, police said. linky (http://www.ninemsn.com.au)