Anti-terror raids in Sydney
A man has been arrested and charged following a series of raids by anti-terror police across southwest Sydney.
The 33-year-old was detained at premises in Chiswick Road, Greenacre, on Friday and is due in court on Saturday on charges of possessing ammunition without a licence and acquiring ammunition subject to a prohibition order.
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Police said search warrants were also executed at premises in Leppington, Condell Park and Punchbowl as part of a long-running investigation and not as a result of any specific terrorism threat.
The raids were carried out as part of Operation Duntulm, an ongoing Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney investigation into alleged financial assistance and support being provided for people who have left Australia to fight overseas in countries such as Syria.
Officers swooped on the string of premises as a result of a NSW Police-led investigation.
The arrested man has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
Police will allege a quantity of prohibited drugs were seized from another man when a second warrant was executed at premises in Punchbowl.
Inquiries into this are continuing while a number of items including documents and computers were seized from the properties searched.
“The operation today is about the gathering of evidence and intelligence to enable us to take action against those who think they can engage in these activities,” Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch, Commander of the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command said.
“The community is again reminded that fighting in or supporting overseas conflicts is illegal and extremely dangerous.”
Operation Duntulm has been running for more than a year and has also resulted in a mother being arrested after she was stopped at Sydney Airport when she tried to board an international flight with her children last May.
Fatima Elomar was later charged with supporting incursions into a foreign state with the intention of engaging in hostile activities.
Australia’s terror alert level is currently high, meaning a terrorist attack is likely.
Friday’s raids come as Sydney continues to grieve for Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson who were killed in the Lindt Cafe siege in December.
Members of the community concerned that family members or friends are radicalising towards violent extremism or considering travel to conflict zones should contact relevant authorities, or the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
The AFP did not provide any more details about the “investigative operation” but said further details would be provided in due course.
Operation Duntulm focuses on foreign incursion offences.
It has also resulted in Fatima Elomar being arrested after she was stopped at Sydney Airport when she tried to board an international flight with her children last May.
She was later charged with supporting incursions into a foreign state with the intention of engaging in hostile activities.
Australia’s terror alert level is currently high, meaning a terrorist attack is likely.
Eleven people have also been charged under another counter-terror investigation, Operation Appleby, which has targeted a nameless group of up to 20 people who sympathise with militant group Islamic State.
– AAP