Australian police announced they had foiled a terrorist attack in Sydney

Australian police said Wednesday it had foiled a terrorist attack "imminent" in Sydney and had arrested two men and seized a machete, a hunting knife, a video and a flag of the Islamic State Group (EI) .


"We believe that these two men were preparing to commit this action yesterday (Tuesday). We collected information, we received additional information indicating that an attack was imminent. And we did," said Catherine Burn, head Deputy of the State Police of New South Wales, including Sydney is the capital. The attack was projected was "consistent with the messages sent by the EI", she stressed.
Call of EI Muslims

On 26 January, EI, greeting jihadist attacks "in France, Australia and Belgium," particularly the attacks that had just 17 people in Paris, urged Muslims worldwide to commit other attacks . "We call on Muslims in Europe and the infidel West to attack the crusaders wherever they are," said an EI spokesperson in an audio message on the internet.

The two men arrested by Australian police were arrested on Tuesday during an operation in a suburb in western Sydney and were charged of shares used in the preparation or planning a terrorist act, said Burn. Their identities have not been made public yet.
Not yet known target

"A number of items were seized, including a machete, a hunting knife, a craft flag of the banned terrorist organization EI, and also a video that shows a man speaking to commit a terrorist attack," said Burn. She said that one of the two men arrested appeared in the video.

"We can not go into the details of what was said in that message," said the police official. She said that the specific target of the attack was not planned yet known, but the intent to commit an attack was "clear".

Australia is vigilant for months before the rise of the terrorist threat. In September 2014, it has raised its alert level and conducted several raids in Sydney and Brisbane to foil an alleged plot to supporters of EI who were planning to abduct and behead an Australian whatsoever.

In December, a man of Iranian origin, Man Haron Monis, Muslim known for his extremist views, took hostage 17 people in a cafe in Sydney and held them for nearly 16 hours. When the man shot the director of coffee, the police stormed and killed the author of the hostage taking. Another hostage died in the crossfire. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott reiterated Monday that the taking of hostages in December was inspired by the "cult of death" of the Islamic state group.