How Australia's biggest anti-terror operation unfolded
NSW Premier Mike Baird delivered a fierce warning to would-be terrorists: "We will hunt you down," following the largest count-terror raids in Australian history.
"If you have any intent to bring overseas conflicts here, if you have any intent to threaten the security of this community, we will hunt you down," the premier said following the pre-dawn counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and Brisbane.
"Those that think they may be operating in dark corners, we are shining the light upon you.
"You may well be listened to as we speak."
HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED
Properties across 12 Sydney suburbs were raided by 800 police early Thursday morning
Police claim to have foiled alleged plan to kidnap someone in Martin Place at random, behead them publicly and drape their body with Islamic State flag
Fifteen people arrested, one faced court charged with serious terror offences
The operation was the biggest terror raid in Australia's history
Mr Baird said plans to randomly attack Sydneysiders were horrifying and those responsible would be caught.
More than 800 NSW and Australian Federal Police raided properties across the Sydney's north-west and in Brisbane.
Fifteen people were detained and one appeared before court.
Omarjan Azari, 22, from Guildford in Sydney's west, has been charged with one count of acting in preparation/planning of a terrorist attack.
Azari is accused of being involved in a plan designed to "shock" and "horrify" through the "random selection of persons to rather gruesomely execute".
Mr Baird said there would be a heavy police presence across Sydney's iconic sites and transport hubs under Operation Hammerhead.
Their presence will be felt this weekend during the Sydney Running Festival and at NRL and AFL finals.
He urged people to go about their normal lives and not be scared off attending major events.
"It's certainly not a time to panic," he said.
"It is a time for calm. Be alert but be assured."
IS leader accused of Sydney terror plot
Mohammad Baryalei is considered to be a senior IS figure.
Omarjan Azari allegedly conspired with senior IS figure Mohammad Baryalei and others "to do acts in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act (or acts)", court papers show.
Prosecutor Michael Allnutt told Central Local Court that Azari, 22, hatched plans designed to "shock" and "horrify" the community, and that they involved the "random selection of persons to rather gruesomely execute".
It's believed they intended to choose a random person on a Sydney street and execute them.
Azari has been charged with acting in preparation for a terrorist act, a charge defence barrister Steven Boland said related to a single conversation.
"The allegation is based on one phone call," Mr Boland said.
Court papers suggest the phone call was made in the early hours of May 8.
Since then, Azaria has allegedly conspired with Baryalei and others to commit a terrorist act.
Baryalei is reportedly a Kings Cross bouncer and occasional actor, responsible for recruiting at least half of the 60 Australians currently fighting in foreign conflicts with IS.
Azari, from Guildford in Sydney's west, was captured as NSW Police and federal officers swooped across the city before dawn on Thursday.
A large number of sheriffs guarded Azari in the dock before his lawyer requested he be returned to the cells.
Azari did not apply for bail and it was formally refused before he was whisked from the court in a two-car convoy.
A sword found in raids in Marsfield on Thursday. Photo AAP
He was seen leaving court in an orange jumpsuit with his head down between his legs in an unmarked 4WD.
A corrections officer was in the front passenger seat holding a pump-action shotgun.
An arrest warrant was issued last week for Baryalei for alleged terrorist activities.
His parents have told the ABC that their son is living peacefully in Turkey.
Police removed a sword as part of evidence found at a residential property in the suburb of Marsfield.
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'Beheading plot' foiled: Claims terror accused plotted to snatch random person off Sydney street
EXCLUSIVE: 7News reporter Robert Ovadia revealed information about the alleged plot to kidnap a random person from the streets of Martin Place in Sydney's CBD, and film their public beheading.
The alleged intention was to film the act and then post it to social media, with the victim's body draped in an Islamic State flag.
"As [Andrew] Scipione said, you would have to be extraordinarily unlucky to be that person, but the whole idea of terrorising people is to make people think they could be a victim," 7News reporter Robert Ovadia said.
"This is going to be the modus operandi of these groups around the world from now on."
AFP conduct pre-dawn Sydney raids in a bid to stop planned terrorist attacks
Police broke the news of the pre-dawn raids involving at least 800 officers on Twitter around 4am on Thursday.
Joint AFP/NSWPF operation underway – a number of arrests #sydneyarrests pic.twitter.com/se6PBcKIzO
— NSW Police (@nswpolice) September 17, 2014
AFP swooped to disrupt plans to commit a violent attack on Australian soil.
They targeted properties across the city on Thursday morning including Beecroft, Bellavista, Guildford, Merrylands, Northmead, Wentworthville, Marsfield, Westmead, Castle Hill, Revesby, Bass Hill and Regents Park.
They executed 25 search warrants in Sydney, arresting 15 people, one of which has been charged with serious terror offences.
The NSW Police Commissioner said the charge relates to an alleged plan to commit a random act of violence against a member of public on the streets.
Andrew Scipione called for calm saying "those plans have been thwarted".
"We don't need to whip this up," Scipione said.
"We actually need to let people know that they are safe and certainly from our perspective, we know that the work this morning will ensure that all of those plans that may have been on foot have been thwarted".
Three of those detained this morning resisted arrest, and there are reports some suspects have had their passports cancelled.
It's understood the raids have eclipsed 2005's Operation Pendennis which saw more than a dozen men arrested over bomb plots in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Seven Network's foreign editor Keith Suter foreign affairs editor warned viewers not to get too "overstimulated".
"Kill one and scare a million," Suter said of the terrorist objective.
Police made several arrests in pre-dawn raids on Thursday, less than one week after Australia's terror threat level was raised following ASIO advice.
It reportedly follows months of surveillance on Sydneysiders believed to be linked to the Islamic State.
Neighbours said they heard the raids unfold on Thursday morning, and say they are shocked it has happened on their doorstop.
"We all grew up on the street together," Saudoba Afzal-Shanasa told 7News. "My mum knows his mother, we never though anything like that"
"He's great, he's always been friendly to us, he's a great guy. I don't understand how this all happened".
AFP forensics officers have moved in to this Guildford home as part today's counter terrorism raids @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/zRx13bIA35
— Matthew Snelson (@matthewsnelson7) September 17, 2014
Extensive raids involving 70 officers have carried out across south-east Queensland, at Logan, Mt Gravatt and Underwood.
It followed the arrest of Omar Succarieh, 31, one of two men detained and charged with terrorism-related offences during a series of raids in south-east Queensland last week.
He is accused of fundraising for Syria-based extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra and helping another man, Agim Kruezi, obtain funds to fight for a terror organisation overseas.
Succarieh is believed to be the brother of Ahmed Succarieh, who reportedly became Australia's first suicide bomber in Syria last year.
Logan man Kruezi, 22, has alleged links to the Islamic State group.
He's been charged with recruiting another person to IS and preparing to fight for a terror group overseas.
Both men are linked to Logan's iQraa Islamic Centre, which was one of nine properties raided by Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police last Wednesday.
Omar Succarieh is one of two men charged with organising incursions into Syria after a series of raids in Brisbane and Logan. Photo: Supplied
That large-scale operation involving 180 officers followed a year-long AFP investigation.
Succarieh is expected to apply for bail in the Supreme Court in Brisbane later on Thursday.
The Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey spoke to Seven's Sunrise ahead of a G20 meeting in Cairns on Friday.
"Everyone needs to make sure that when there's an increased threat level we have all the necessary precautions taken," Mr Hockey said.
"For the G20 here in Brisbane I'm confident all bases are covered."
A statement from NSW Police says the operation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected to be made.
