Posted on 11/07/2005 3:17:05 PM PST by indianrightwinger
17 held in Australia terror swoop
Monday, November 7, 2005; Posted: 6:12 p.m. EST (23:12 GMT)
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Australian authorities have arrested 17 people Tuesday on counterterrorism charges in Melbourne and Sydney and credited their 18-month investigation with averting terrorist bombings.
"We believe that we've been able to significantly disrupt a proposed terrorist attack here in Australia," New South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney told Australia's Channel 7 Television.
The men have been charged with offenses "that include sections of Commonwealth legislation that have not been previously used, relating to being a member of a terrorist group, conspiring to commit a terrorist act and directing a terrorist organization," the federal police said in a written statement.
The arrests followed the execution of 22 search warrants across Sydney and Melbourne Tuesday morning during which a range of material "including unidentified substances, firearms, travel documents, computers and backpacks" was seized, the statement said.
"By working collaboratively, Australia's law enforcement and intelligence agencies have managed to disrupt the alleged activities of this group and therefore protect the Australian community from a potential terrorist threat," AFP Deputy Commissioner John Lawler said.
Police arrested eight people in New South Wales state and nine people in Victoria state.
The charges include acts in preparation of a terrorist act, being a member of a terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.
One man also has been charged with directing a terrorist organization.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
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