World
Police in Australia said that the two 16-year-old boys, who were arrested by counter-terrorism team in Sydney on Wednesday, were planning an attack inspired by jihadist group Islamic State. Both the boys, who were carrying two bayonet-style knives and notes pledging allegiance to IS, have been charged with terrorism-related offenses and may get a maximum of life imprisonment.
One of the boys is a relative of Hamdi Alqudsi, a convicted terrorist serving jail term for helping young Australians travel to Syria to fight for IS, writes ABC News. The pair was arrested during an anti-terror operation that involved search at a number of homes and also at a prayer hall.
N.S.W. Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said that the pair posed an unacceptable risk to the community and their arrest has averted the 11th imminent attack in the country. Minister for Justice Michael Keenan said that the police are being trained to pick the signs of radicalization in Australian youths.
Earlier in September, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull warned that the threat of terrorist attacks in the country was “real” after IS urged its supporters to carry out “lone-wolf attacks” at popular locations in Australia, reports the BBC.
