Australian police conducted raids across Sydney on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of seven teenagers suspected of following a violent extremist ideology. The individuals, aged between 15 and 17, were part of a network that included a 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing a bishop in a Sydney church on April 15.
The Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, comprising federal and state police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, and the New South Wales Crime Commission, was involved in the operation. Five other teenagers were being questioned by authorities late Wednesday.
Over 400 police officers executed 13 search warrants in southwest Sydney due to the suspects being deemed an immediate threat to public safety. Deputy Commissioner David Hudson stated that the group adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology.
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett mentioned that no specific targets or timing for a violent act were identified during the investigation. The police operation was not related to the upcoming Anzac Day public holiday.
The 16-year-old accused of the terrorist act in the church stabbing incident faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A court order banning the dissemination of videos related to the attack on social media platform X was extended until May 10.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess confirmed the agency's involvement in the operation, emphasizing the importance of security intelligence in addressing immediate threats. Burgess highlighted the vulnerability of minors to extremist influences, with investigations into children on the rise due to factors such as social media content.
