Heavily armed police have raided properties in four Sydney suburbs in an operation the prime minister says was designed to stop “terrorist attacks in Australia”.
Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and the domestic spy agency ASIO jointly carried out the major counter terrorism operation on Saturday afternoon in Surry Hills, Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl.
“Four men have been taken into custody and are assisting police with their enquiries,” the AFP and NSW Police said in a joint statement following the raids.
Fairfax Media reports the raids were in relation to a terrorist cell “and a bomb plot involving aircraft”.
Forty riot squad officers stormed the Surry Hills terrace before the explosives team found a suspicious device.
TV footage shows a man with a bandage on his head and draped in a blanket being led away by authorities.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been briefed on the progress of the operation by security agency heads.
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