Sunday, July 30, 2017

Australian Police Disrupt Plot to Bring Down an Airliner


From the AP:
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Police disrupted a terrorist plot to bring down an airplane and arrested four men on Saturday in raids on homes in several Sydney suburbs, the prime minister said. 
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Sunday that security had been increased at Sydney Airport since Thursday because of the plot. The increased security measures had been extended to all major international and domestic terminals around Australia overnight. 
"I can report last night that there has been a major joint counterterrorism operation to disrupt a terrorist plot to bring down an airplane," Turnbull told reporters. "The operation is continuing." 
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said details were scant on the specifics of the attack, the location and timing. 
"In recent days, law enforcement has been become aware of information that suggested some people in Sydney were planning to commit a terrorist attack using an improvised devise," Colvin said. 
"We are investigating information indicating the aviation industry was potentially a target of that attack," he added. Australia's terrorist threat level remained unchanged at "probable," Turnbull said. 
Turnbull advised travelers in Australia to arrive at Australian airports earlier than usual — two hours before departure — to allow for extra security screening and to minimize baggage. 
"We believe it's Islamic-inspired terrorism," Colvin said when asked if the Islamic State group was behind the plot. 
The plot was the 13th significant threat disrupted by police since Australia's terrorist threat level was elevated in 2014, Justice Minister Michael Keenan said. 
Five plots have been executed.

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