Australian PM cites ‘chatter’ over attacks on government, parliament
Tony Abbott says intelligence sources picked up information outlining proposed attack on Australian politicians or government buildings prior to ant-terrorism raids on Thursday
Intelligence “chatter” has revealed that militants plan to attack Australian politicians and government buildings, Australia’s prime minister said on Friday, a day after hundreds of police carried out a sweeping counter-terrorism operation.
Tony Abbott said he had ordered security boosted at Parliament House in Canberra, amid mounting concern over the possibility of attacks by Australians radicalised in Iraq or Syria.
More than 800 police were involved in the security operation in Sydney and Brisbane on Thursday, which authorities said had thwarted a plot by militants linked to the Islamic State group to behead a random member of the public.
“There is chatter, there has been chatter, amongst these networks, of targeting government people. There is no doubt about that,” Abbott said in an interview with Australia’s Channel Nine television network.
“That is why we are in the process of upgrading security at Parliament House in Canberra; that is why we are in the process of putting the Australian Federal Police in charge, not just of external security, but also of internal security in Parliament House.”
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday called the foiled plot an “extravaganza of brutality”, and said it was evidence of the radical group’s ability to attack targets outside the Middle East.