Australia: Cops conduct terror raids
2012-09-12 18:00
Sydney - Australian police have raided a string of properties in Melbourne over alleged links to home-grown terrorism, reports said on Wednesday.
Australian Federal Police and Victorian police would not confirm the raids, but said an operation was ongoing.
"It's an ongoing investigation," a spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police said, adding that it would be inappropriate to comment further.
The Age newspaper said the raids were linked to the Al-Furqan Islamic Centre in Springvale.
The paper said those targeted in the operation were believed to be involved in "contemplating and getting information" about terrorist activities rather than a full-blown terror plot.
Cordoned off
A spokesperson for the Al-Furqan centre, which has an Islamic bookstore and runs prayers, classes and youth activities, told Australian Associated Press that police arrived at 06:00 and remained at the centre until evening.
"They wouldn't allow anyone inside, they just cordoned it off," the man, who would not give his name, said.
"They took a few things and gave us a receipt.
"Everyone has been taken aback but you always have the feeling that these things can happen," he said.
Australia has disrupted at least four major home-grown terror plots since the 9/11 attacks on the United States, with 37 of the 38 people prosecuted as a result being Australian citizens.
Last year three men who were found guilty of plotting to attack a Sydney army barracks with high-powered weapons, and shoot as many people as possible to further their vision of Islam, were jailed for 18 years.
