Seven teenagers were detained in Sydney after a counterterrorism raid. Image source: Highway Patrol Images, via Flickr.
Seven teenagers have been arrested in a series of counterterrorism raids following the “religiously motivated” stabbing of a Sydney bishop.
New South Wales Police confirmed in a statement on Wednesday 24 April that over 400 officers carried out 13 search warrants overnight on suspicions of terrorist threat.
The detainees are aged 15 to 17.
NSW Police worked with members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the NSW Crime Commission to form the joint counterterrorism team (JCTT) that executed the raids.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw confirmed the raids were in response to the alleged attack by a 16-year-old at Christ the Good Shepherd Church earlier this month.
The 16-year-old was charged with a terrorist offence for the attack which injured Assyrian Orthodox Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Father Isaac Royel.
Those detained in the following raids were linked to the alleged offender, according to police.
ASIO and the NSW Crime Commission were also questioning five other teenagers in connection to the attack.
AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said, “We identified links between the alleged offender and a network of associates and peers who would believe shared a similar violent extremist ideology.”
“At this time, we have no evidence of specific locations, times or targets, or a violent act,” she said.
Barrett denied there was any threat to Thursday’s ANZAC Day celebrations, which have previously been “the target of extremists”.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David said, “We will allege that these individuals adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology.”
“No specific targets had been nominated — however, it’s just the ongoing threat and loose nature of the group as well,” he said.
“Whilst coordinated to some degree, there were splinter factions doing their own thing as well.”
Hudson confirmed that more raids will follow as the investigation progresses.
Five people have also been charged for their alleged involvement in the riot that erupted outside the church following the attack.
