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Australian police launch major anti-terror operation
Senior officers say police have foiled a suicide plot in Australia that involved terrorists linked to a Somali extremist group launching commando-style attacks on at least one army base.
- Agencies
- Published: 07:29 August 4, 2009
- Police search a car at a Melbourne suburb after a pre-dawn raid at one of 19 locations Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, in Australia.
- Image Credit: AP
Melbourne: Senior officers say police have foiled a suicide plot in Australia that involved terrorists linked to a Somali extremist group launching commando-style attacks on at least one army base.
Police say some 400 officers from state and national security services took part in 19 pre-dawn raids on properties in Melbourne.
Police say four men, all Australian citizens of Somali or Lebanese descent, were arrested and several others were being questioned on Tuesday.
The raids followed a seven-month surveillance operation against the group, which is allegedly linked to Somali extremist group, Al Shabaab.
Police said that members of the cell planned to enter an army base armed with automatic weapons and open fire.
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