Australian Police Arrest 7 Teenagers in Sydney Terror Raids

Australian police have arrested seven teenagers as part of a wave of counter-terrorism raids across Sydney, claiming it was likely the youths may have been plotting an attack. The suspects are believed to share a religiously motivated violent extremist ideology, say police. The raids are linked to last week’s stabbing of an Assyrian bishop, which police declared a terrorist act. Police say the offenders were juveniles aged from 15 to 17. Investigators allege that the teenagers belong to the same network as the 16-year-old boy who has been charged with a terror offense in relation to the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, which occurred during a livestreamed sermon. At least four people suffered non-threatening injuries after the attack in the western Sydney suburb of Wakeley. The 16-year-old was also hurt. An investigation by the state’s joint counterterrorism team remains ongoing. In total, 400 police officers were involved in Wednesday’s raids, with search warrants issued at thirteen locations across southwest Sydney. Bishop Emmanuel – who was the victim of last week’s stabbing – is widely known in the community, and has a huge following online. He is a divisive figure though, known for his ultra-conservative and often controversial views on issues such same-sex marriage and the Islamic faith. Authorities have declined to state the religion of his alleged teenage attacker.