MELBOURNE
Australian police have arrested 15 people, saying they had received intelligence that the militant group ISIL was planning "public executions".
At least one person was charged with terrorism-related offences on Thursday following the biggest anti-terrorism operation in Australia's history with more than 800 federal and state police officers carrying out raids on dozens of properties across Sydney and Brisbane.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said: “The exhortations, quite direct exhortations, were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in ISIL to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country.
"So this is not just suspicion, this is intent and that's why the police and security agencies decided to act in the way they have."
Omarjan Azari, 22, appeared at the Central Local Court in Sydney accused of conspiring to commit an act to "shock, horrify and terrify" the public. He was refused bail.
Police say they believe the suspects were planning to conduct public beheadings after abducting a random member of the public and draping them in the ISIL flag.
The Australian government last Friday raised its "terrorism threat level" from medium to high in response to what it said was a security threat posed by Islamic State supporters.
www.aa.com.tr/en
