Australia: 7 teen extremists linked to Sydney church stabbing held
What's the story
Seven teenagers aged between 15 and 17 were detained on Wednesday by Australian law enforcement on suspicion of adhering to a violent extremist ideology. Officials stated these measures were necessary to protect the public from potential harm, linking the teens to an alleged assault on a bishop in a Sydney church last month. "We will allege that these individuals adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology," said New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson.
Ongoing investigation
400 police officers executed 13 search warrants across Southwest Sydney
The Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, which includes federal and state police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), and the New South Wales Crime Commission, continued interrogations with five additional teenagers into late Wednesday. Over 400 police officers executed a total of 13 search warrants at various locations across southwest Sydney. Hudson elaborated on the threat posed by this group to New South Wales residents, stating "Our current purely investigative strategies could not adequately ensure public safety."
Investigation details
No evidence of specific targets or timing for violent act
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett clarified that investigators found no evidence of specific targets or timing for an intended "violent act". She also confirmed that this police operation was not connected to Anzac Day, a public holiday previously targeted by extremists. Meanwhile, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said, "Australia's security service is always doing its thing to provide...intelligence that enables the police to deal with these problems when we have immediate threats to life or anything else that's evolving."
Legal actions
Social media platforms prohibited from displaying video of attack
Separately, in connection with the church assault, an Australian Federal Court judge extended an order prohibiting a social media platform from displaying videos of the bishop being attacked until May 10. To recall, a 16-year-old boy from the group was charged last Friday with committing a terrorist act following an assault in which an Assyrian Orthodox bishop and priest were injured.