Anti-terror raids in Sydney

Two Arrested in Counter-Terrorism Raids in Australia

Police officers arrested two men during two separate raids in Sydney following a year-long investigation into Australians fighting in Syria and Iraq.

Sputnik

10 January, 2015

MOSCOW, January 10 (Sputnik) – Police officers from Sydney’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team arrested two men in two separate raids on Friday, according to a press release of the Australian Federal Police.

The men were detained in southwestern Sydney as part of a long-running investigation. The arrests were not linked to any specific terrorism threat, according to the Australian Federal Police.

Omar Ammouche, 33, arrested in the suburb of Greenacre, was charged with acquiring and possessing ammunition without license, according to the Guardian. The second man was arrested in the suburb of Punchbowl. "Police will allege a quantity of prohibited drugs were seized from" him, the Australian Federal Police said.

Both arrests were made as part of Operation Duntulm, aimed at investigating "support mechanisms being provided for those who have left Australia and are now fighting overseas," primarily in Syria and Iraq, according to the Australian Federal Police. The Australian Security Intelligence Organization has estimated that over 70 Australians are fighting in the Middle East, according to the Australian.

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"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,"  said NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch, Commander of the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command, as quoted by the press release.

Murdoch stressed that any illegal involvement in an overseas conflict is dangerous. "It doesn’t matter who you are or what you believe in, if you choose to illegally fight in an overseas conflict you are not only breaking the law, you are placing yourself in immense danger," he said.

However, Adam Houda, a lawyer representing Ammouche, was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that the arrest was not linked with terrorism. "One of the hallmarks of our justice system is the presumption of innocence," he added, asking to consider his client innocent.

Australia’s terrorism alert level remains high, meaning the country’s government believes that terrorist attacks are likely to occur. The level was raised on September 12, according to the Australian Federal Police