Raid

[crisis]

NEW South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney has confirmed today's early morning raids on 15 southwest Sydney properties was a pre-emptive strike on a group believed to be planning an act of terrorism.
Hundreds of police from NSW, Victoria and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) as well as ASIO agents conducted the raids in Sydney and Melbourne following a 16-month intelligence-based operation.
Mr Moroney said amendments to anti-terrorist legislation by Prime Minister John Howard last week helped police carry out the arrests but denied the announcement last week of a terrorist threat against Australia forced the hand of investigating officers.
Mr Moroney said the decision to conduct the raids was made yesterday.
Six of seven men in custody in Sydney were due to face Sydney courts later today on charges of stockpiling chemicals for a possible terrorist attack.
A seventh man was shot in the chest by police after he opened fire at them, hitting an officer, police said.
He was being treated in Liverpool Hospital, where his condition was satisfactory.
The seven were expected to be charged under Commonwealth law with commit and act in preparation for an act of terrorism and would be refused bail, he said.
Mr Moroney said chemicals were discovered by police during the raids today and he had been fully briefed on the properties of the chemicals.
The chemicals, according to NSW Premier Morris Iemma, were capable of making explosives.
"I'm advised that as result of on going investigations intelligence was received that a group was making arrangements to stockpile chemicals and other materials capable of making explosives," Mr Iemma said.
"Those detained will be charged with terrorist related activities."
The targets were unknown but it could be assumed Sydney and Melbourne were among them, Mr Moroney said.
He said the investigation was on-going and would not cease as a result of the arrests.
A total of 16 men have been arrested and charged following the raids.


I must say I was a bit skeptical when I first heard this given the fact that our untrustworthy governement was under pressure to produce something to justify the new anti terror laws (which could proabably enable them to arrest me for writing this). It would appear however that the urgency may have been as a result of the neccessity to aprehend these loonies.