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              Australia Thwarts 'Violent' Terror Plot, Arrests 15

   by VOA News

   Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says a massive anti-terrorism
   raid was prompted by an Islamic State figure who has ordered
   "demonstration" killings in Australia.

   Prime Minister Abbott said Thursday the order came from "an Australian
   who is apparently quite senior" in the extremist group, which controls
   large parts of Syria and Iraq.

   Australian media say court documents later Thursday will reveal the
   militants planned to abduct a random Australian, wrap the victim in an
   Islamic State flag, and behead him.

   The revelations came after about 800 Australian police officers carried
   out pre-dawn raids in Sydney, Brisbane, and Logan, arresting 15 people.
   At least one has been charged with a terrorism-related offense.

   Australia recently elevated its terror warning amid threats by Islamic
   State fighters, who have already carried out video-taped beheadings of
   three Westerners.

   Federal police chief Andrew Colvin told reporters the group targeted by
   the raids "had started to carry out planning to commit violent acts
   here in Australia."

   "These violent acts particularly related to random acts against members
   of the public. So what we saw today and the operation that continues
   was very much about police disrupting the potential for violence
   against the Australian community at the earliest possible opportunity,"
   said Colvin.

   Last week, Australian police arrested two men in Brisbane suspected of
   preparing to fight in Syria, recruiting militants and raising money for
   the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/australia-thwarts-terror-plot/2453738
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/australia-thwarts-terror-plot/2453738.html