Seven people constituting “an unacceptable risk and threat” for the Australian population were arrested during anti-terrorist searches on Wednesday April 24, said the Australian police, who initially mentioned five arrests. All are minors aged 15 to 17, she said.
These police raids in thirteen different locations in Sydney mobilized more than four hundred members of the police, and stem from an investigation triggered by the stabbing attack on a religious carried out by a 16-year-old teenager, last week last in a church in the same city.
The police specified that the arrested individuals were members of a “extremist ideology motivated by religious considerations”. He is ” likely “ that the group was planning an attack, although no specific target had been identified, said Dave Hudson, a senior New South Wales police officer. “Their behavior while under surveillance led us to believe that, if they were to commit an act, we would not be able to prevent it”he declared to the press, before adding: “During the investigation we believed it was likely an attack would occur. »
“Terrorism and the radicalization of young people online are an ongoing problem for us”, said Mr. Hudson. Network members “shared a common violent extremist ideology”simply added Krissy Barrett, a counter-terrorism specialist with the Australian Federal Police.
Intelligence investigates ‘racist extremist network’
On April 15, Mar Mari Emmanuel, bishop of an Assyrian church in Sydney, was stabbed in the head and chest by a 16-year-old boy during a live-streamed sermon. The attack sparked a riot among worshipers at the church, located in Sydney’s western suburbs. The cleric, who had a large internet audience of nearly 200,000 people, became known for criticizing Islam, Covid-19 vaccines, as well as for his violently anti-LGBTQ sermons.
The police quickly described the teenager’s act as “terrorist”, triggering the opening of an investigation by a team bringing together federal police forces and intelligence services. The attacker was arrested, while he was denied bail. He faces life in prison if convicted.
In the context of the terrorist threat in the country, the head of Australian intelligence, Mike Burgess, on Wednesday called on major technology platforms (like Apple, Google and Microsoft) for more cooperation, asking them to provide access limited to encrypted messages, a long-standing taboo. “Without their help in very limited and strictly controlled circumstances, encryption escapes accountability”he stressed.
According to Mr. Burgess, message encryption has compromised the ability of intelligence services to detect threats, and technology groups would have a duty to remove encryption when requested to do so. “Encryption is clearly a good thing, a positive thing for our democracy and our economy”, did he declare. But “it also protects terrorists and spies, saboteurs and abominable criminals”.
Mr Burgess said Australian intelligence was currently investigating a “racist extremist network” using encrypted messaging. “This network shares vile propaganda, advises on making weapons, and discusses how to provoke a race war”he added.
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Large digital companies are opposed to the idea of providing access to encrypted messages, arguing that it would pose a threat to cybersecurity and user privacy. The chief of the Australian Federal Police, Reece Kershaw, notably designated Meta, which set up an end-to-end encryption system for the social network Facebook and the Facebook Messenger messaging service.
