Staff Writer
While
Australia typically doesn’t have issues with terrorism, the nation has been on
high terror alert and an attempted terrorist attack on Thursday has led to a
feeling of unease. The terrorist attack
was foiled by the Australian government after it received intelligence that Muslim
extremists planned a public execution.
They were planning to behead a member of the public and wrap the victim
up in an ISIS flag. Fifteen people were detained
by the police, and two have been charged in connection to the terror plot. One of the men was charged with possession of
unlicensed ammunition and an unauthorized prohibited weapon. The other man, named Omarjan Azari, was
charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism.
The other detainees have been released.
This
plot has taken place during a time when Australia is joining an international
coalition to combat ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a radical
terrorist group that is gaining attention for its brutal methods and their beheadings
of multiple Westerners. Over the past
year, more and more Australian citizens have become jihadists and are
influencing other people in the nation.
This means that tensions are building and that the threat of a terrorist
attack has been becoming more present.
Over
800 law enforcement officers carried out police raids in Sydney early on the
same day in an effort to serve 25 police warrants. Other searches took place later and the
police presence in Australia has increased dramatically. Many Australian citizens have been protesting
the police raids, and some are saying that these recent events have started
feelings of racism and discrimination against Muslims. On Friday, the Australian government
stationed federal police at the house of parliament due to the terrorist
threats.
