Australia launches anti-terror raids over plot to kill
Andrew Colvin: The operation was about "police disrupting potential for violence against the community"
Australian police have carried out major anti-terror raids triggered by a call from a senior Islamic State militant for "demonstration killings", Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.
The raids, involving at least 800 heavily-armed officers, took place in Brisbane and Sydney.
Fifteen people were arrested and one person charged with "serious terrorism-related offences", police said.
Police say the anti-terror operation was the largest in Australian history.
Addressing a press conference, Mr Abbott said "direct exhortations were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in ISIL (Islamic State) to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country".
"So this is not just suspicion, this is intent and that's why the police and security agencies decided to act in the way they have."
Reports in the Australian media said a plot involved beheading a random member of the public after draping them in an Islamic State flag.
'Random attacks'
The raids began early on Thursday, with officers executing 25 search warrants across 12 Sydney suburbs.
Police say that at least 15 people were arrested in the early morning raids
More than 800 heavily armed officers raided properties in Sydney and Brisbane
They followed investigations into a Sydney-based group "alleged to have the intent to carry out random attacks on individuals" in Australia, the Australia Federal Police said in a statement.
"The police activity today was about preventing this group at the earliest possible opportunity and ensuring their plans did not come to fruition," Acting AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said.
Raids in Brisbane were not "directly linked" to the Sydney operation but related to a raid last week on an Islamic centre that led to two men being charged with terrorism offences, he said.
Last week, Australia raised its terror threat level to high amid concerns of the growing number of Australians "working with, connected to or inspired by" Islamist groups.
The arrests have been described as Australia's biggest anti-terrorism operation
Police and other law enforcement agencies cordon off a street as forensic experts collect evidence inside a house in the Guildford area of Sydney
Police in Sydney said that the arrests followed the execution of a number of search warrants across the city's north-west suburbs early on Wednesday
Police also carried out raids in Brisbane
Officials say dozens of Australians have gone to fight in the Middle East for jihadist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra (also known as the al-Nusra Front).
At least 60 Australians are believed to be fighting with jihadist groups in Syria and northern Iraq, and 15 Australians have been killed so far in these conflicts, including two suicide bombers.
About 100 more Australians are thought to be actively supporting these groups, police say.
Officials are worried about the impact of both returning fighters and supporters of these groups on domestic security.
It is the first time Australia's threat level has moved from medium to high - the second-highest rank - since the system was introduced in 2003.
"Medium" means an attack could occur. "High" means an attack is likely and "extreme" means an attack is imminent or has occurred.
Australia has also recently committed troops to the fight against Islamic State.
Mr Abbott, who has been spending a week in an indigenous area in northern Australia, is heading back south to see off departing troops.
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