Update | Anti-terror raids launched after Islamic State ordered 'demonstration killings' in Australia
Prosecutors tell court that man charged with serious terrorism offences was instructed by senior IS member to carry out demonstration killing
Australia's largest counter-terrorism raids yesterday left 15 people in detention, and apparently foiled an alleged plot by Islamic State jihadists to conduct "demonstration killings", including beheading a random member of the public.
A major pre-dawn operation was carried out across Sydney and Brisbane by more than 800 officers acting on some 25 search warrants. One person has so far been charged with serious terrorism-related offences. At least one gun was seized, and a sword.
Omarjan Azari, 22, appeared in a Sydney court and was remanded in custody, charged with planning a terrorist act which prosecutors alleged was designed to "shock, horrify and terrify" the community. The court heard he was instructed in a phone call by the most senior Australian member of Islamic State, Afghan-born Mohammad Baryalei, to commit the atrocity.
Prosecutor Michael Allnutt alleged the plan involved the "random selection of persons to rather gruesomely execute" on camera and involved "an unusual level of fanaticism".
The ABC said the video was then to be sent back to Islamic State's media unit in the Middle East, where it would be released to the public.
The raids came barely a week after Australia boosted the terror threat level to "high" for the first time in a decade on growing concern about militants returning from fighting in Iraq and Syria.