Islamic State foiled as 'plan to behead person on Australian soil' exposed

Tony Abbott said that they received an intelligence report suggesting that ISIS planned a ttack that will involve beheading a random person in Sydney.

17:38 18 September 2014

Intelligence reports are suggesting that supporters of Islamic State were planning to kidnap and behead a random person in Sydney. 

 

Tony Abbott confirmed: "That's the intelligence we received.

 

"The exhortations - quite direct exhortations - were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in ISIL (also known as IS or ISIS) to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country.

 

"This is not just suspicion, this is intent and that's why the police and security agencies decided to act in the way they have."

 

More than 800 police officers are now involved in the operation, which saw at least 15 people detained with one charged with a serious “terrorism-related” offence. 

 

New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the operation showed the reality of the threat facing Australia.

 

He said: "You know it is of serious concern that right at the heart of our communities we have people that are planning to conduct random attacks.

 

"Today we work together to make sure that didn't happen. We have disrupted that particular attack."