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Seven youths have been arrested in raids across south-west Sydney today as part of the ongoing investigation into the Wakeley alleged terror attack.
NSW Police and the AFP alleged they had identified a “number of associates” of a 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who all subscribed to a “religiously motivated violent extremist ideology.”
“We identified links between the alleged offender and a network of associates and peers who we believe shared a similar violent extremist ideology,” AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barret said.
“The JCTT has acted swiftly to disrupt these individuals and the investigation remains ongoing.
“We want to be very clear, we target radicalisation, not religion.”
Barret said there was no evidence of a specific target for a violent terror act.
Thirteen search warrants were carried out across Sydney’s south-west by over 400 AFP and NSW Police officers, with seven youths arrested and a further five assisting with enquiries.
“It was considered that the group, subject of our attention, posed an unacceptable risk and threat to the people of NSW, and our current investigative strategies could not adequately ensure public safety,” Deputy Commander David Hudson said.
”The action we have taken today has mitigated any risk of further harm.”
There is no ongoing threat to the community, he also said.
The AFP and NSW Police urged the community to report any suspicious behaviour to the national security hotline.
The NSW Joint Counter-Terrorism Team said earlier that it was conducting raids throughout Sydney today as part of the ongoing investigation into the Wakeley alleged terror attack.
ASIO Boss Mike Burgess confirmed this morning that the raids were in relation to the attack at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley last week, which saw a bishop and a priest hospitalised after they were allegedly stabbed by a 16-year-old boy.
“We are involved, it’s joint with the three agencies and the New South Wales Crime Commission in that state,” Burgess said.
“My officers are connected and involved and embedded inside the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team.
“And on the back end, Australia’s security services are always doing its thing to provide security intelligence that enables the police to deal with these problems when we have immediate threats to life.”
Police reassured there is no threat to public safety and the raids have no relation to Anzac Day commemorations tomorrow.
“The JCTT Sydney is executing search warrants in Sydney today as part of an ongoing investigation,” a NSW Police statement said earlier.
“More information will be provided later today, but nothing further is available at this time.”
The NSW JCTT comprises members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.
