Australian police say they prevented bombings on Christmas

[webfact]

Australian police say they prevented bombings on Christmas

 

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Police arrested seven suspects who were allegedly planning a series of bomb attacks in the heart of Australian's second largest city on Christmas Day, an official said Friday.

 

The seven men had been inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbourne's Flinders Street train station, neighboring Federation Square and St. Paul's Cathedral, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said.

 

Police had been watching the alleged plotters for some time, and believed they were preparing to use explosives and other weapons, Ashton said.

 

Police believed the threat had been neutralized through the raids Thursday night and Friday morning, he said.

 

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said there will be extra police on the streets of Melbourne on Christmas Day to make the public feel safe.

 

Ashton said police had gathered unspecified evidence in the raids that the plotters were planning to use explosives in their attack.

 

"We gathered the makings of an improvised explosive device," Ashton said.

 

He added: "Certainly (there was the) potential for quite a number of people to be injured or killed in this attack."

 

About 400 police officers were involved in the raids.

 

Ashton described those arrested as "self-radicalized" and inspired by Islamic State propaganda.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-23

[optad]

A point to note here is that four of these five are Australian born descendants of Lebanese refugees from the 80's and 90's. Recent arrivals from Iraqi and Syria have other things on their mind. More licentious views should be tempered by this.

 

It principally is a second generation problem of low integration, poor employment prospects, very poor secondary and tertiary education level despite opportunities, and fundamentally preferring some ridiculous romanticised picture as told by their parents because of their own failed expectations.  

 

This group in particular, compare poorly to the Vietnamese and even contemporary Afghani refugees / settlers. They are not all the same. 

[ezzra]

 

This is the Thank you Australia gets from letting those  ' people ' into the country think they will assimilate.... never ceases to amaze how those new comers from Islamic/Arab countries still carry the torch of disdain and  loathing no matter how many generation have passed and who they're inflicting their hate towards.....

[optad]

They are just dangerous delinquents. Australia is an immigrant nation however some groups seem to work better than others. I would not wholly categorise pros or cons on religion, but really a prediction for betterment. Those who seem predisposed to welfare are more likely to troublesome. And we are talking two generations on welfare. No ambition. Had no opportunity before, given the spectrum and still cannot take move forward.

[SaintLouisBlues]

Seven people out of how many hundreds of thousands of immigrants? The biggest foreign-born population in Australian prisons is New Zealanders

[webfact]

Australia police: Christmas Day bomb plot foiled, 5 detained 
ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press

 

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Police in Australia have detained five men suspected of planning a series of Christmas Day bomb attacks in the heart of the country's second-largest city, officials said Friday.

 

The suspects had been inspired by the Islamic State group and planned attacks on Melbourne's Flinders Street train station, neighboring Federation Square and St. Paul's Cathedral, Victoria state Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said.

 

The arrests came after a truck smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing 12 people. A manhunt is underway for the person behind that attack, which prompted increases in security around the world.

 

Two of seven people initially arrested in raids Thursday night and Friday morning in Melbourne — a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman — were released without being charged, police said.

 

Five men between the ages 21 and 26 remained in custody and would be charged later Friday with preparing a terrorist attack. They were not identified but police said four were born in Australia and the fifth was Egyptian-born with Egyptian and Australian citizenship.

 

Police had been watching the alleged plotters for some time, and believed they were preparing to use explosives, knives and a gun, Ashton said.

 

Police believed the threat had been neutralized through the raids on five Melbourne premises, he said.

 

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: "This is one of the most substantial terrorist plots that have been disrupted over the last several years."

 

"Islamist terrorism is a global challenge that affects us all. But we must not be cowed by the terrorists," Turnbull told reporter.

 

"We will continue to go about our lives as we always have. What these criminals seek to do is to kill. But they also seek to frighten us, to cow us into abandoning our Australian way of life. They want to frighten Australians. They want to divide Australians. They want us to turn on each other. We will not let them succeed," he added.

 

Since Australia's terrorist threat level was elevated in September 2014, the government says there have been four extremist attacks and 12 plots foiled by police.

 

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the plotters had moved very quickly from a plan to develop a capability to attack.

 

"In terms of events that we have seen over the past few years in Australia, this certainly concerns me more than any other event that I've seen," Colvin said.

 

"We believe that we have removed the bulk of this particular cell, this group," he said.

 

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said there will be extra police on the streets of Melbourne on Christmas Day to make the public feel safe.

 

About 400 police officers were involved in the raids.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-23

[Trentham]

1 hour ago, optad said:

A point to note here is that four of these five are Australian born descendants of Lebanese refugees from the 80's and 90's. Recent arrivals from Iraqi and Syria have other things on their mind. More licentious views should be tempered by this.

 

It principally is a second generation problem of low integration, poor employment prospects, very poor secondary and tertiary education level despite opportunities, and fundamentally preferring some ridiculous romanticised picture as told by their parents because of their own failed expectations.  

 

This group in particular, compare poorly to the Vietnamese and even contemporary Afghani refugees / settlers. They are not all the same. 

I would like to know how you know that 4 of these people were of Lebanese descent. In all that I have read that has not been revealed. Is this just another case of Lebanese bashing that has been occurring in Australia recently???

[Farma]

@ Trentham

From http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/news/police-raids-in-melbournes-northern-suburbs/news-story/135a23d342de22b6abedc7203b02d04f

Quote

Four are Australian-born with a Lebanese background and one is an Australian citizen born in Egypt.

 

[optad]

5 minutes ago, Trentham said:

I would like to know how you know that 4 of these people were of Lebanese descent. In all that I have read that has not been revealed. Is this just another case of Lebanese bashing that has been occurring in Australia recently???

One of the arresting police commissioners [there were several task forces involved] described their background so, on ABC radio 11:00AM. I am sensitive too re profiling. What I opinion I added to reports is from community work in those northern melbourne suburbs. You might be sensitive to Lebanese bashing, equally I dislike entire muslim/ islam bashing.

 

In this case it is fact that four were aust born of Lebanese descent and the other an Egyptian born resident. 

[optad]

2 minutes ago, Farma said:

@ Trentham

From http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/news/police-raids-in-melbournes-northern-suburbs/news-story/135a23d342de22b6abedc7203b02d04f

 

better said

[Goingmad]

2 hours ago, optad said:

They are just dangerous delinquents. Australia is an immigrant nation however some groups seem to work better than others. I would not wholly categorise pros or cons on religion, but really a prediction for betterment. Those who seem predisposed to welfare are more likely to troublesome. And we are talking two generations on welfare. No ambition. Had no opportunity before, given the spectrum and still cannot take move forward.

Muslim think religion before country. If there are bad muslims( terrorists) the country has no chance.

[optad]

33 minutes ago, Goingmad said:

Muslim think religion before country. If there are bad muslims( terrorists) the country has no chance.

 

The fact is intra-muslim  conflict far outweighs their allegiance to what being 'muslim' actually is.

 

Between the shi'ites, sunnis and a host of other sets, they do not know peace within. Review the middle east for the last 50 years+, they cannot get their 'stuff' together, which is a blessing. Unified they would be more dangerous but you cannot unify what is fundamentally not same. Muslim is an umbrella word for us, not them living their version islam.

 

 

[bridge2bridge]

2 hours ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

Seven people out of how many hundreds of thousands of immigrants? The biggest foreign-born population in Australian prisons is New Zealanders

SEVEN so far, there will be MORE.

 

[Stargeezr]

In  Canada  when  a  Canadian  is  caught,  it  takes  quite   a  while,  if  ever

for  the  press to  say  that  the  person  was  a  Muslim, first  or  second  generation

if  they  have  either gone  to  fight  with ISIL  and return  to Canada,  and  of  course

they  do  not  lose  their  Canadian izm  and  passport  and get  sent  to their

or  their  parents  home  Muslim  country.  I  am  glad  that Australia  is  not

completely  like  Canada.  Keep  yourself  strong  people of  Australia.

Geezer

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

5 hours ago, optad said:

A point to note here is that four of these five are Australian born descendants of Lebanese refugees from the 80's and 90's. Recent arrivals from Iraqi and Syria have other things on their mind. More licentious views should be tempered by this.

 

It principally is a second generation problem of low integration, poor employment prospects, very poor secondary and tertiary education level despite opportunities, and fundamentally preferring some ridiculous romanticised picture as told by their parents because of their own failed expectations.  

 

This group in particular, compare poorly to the Vietnamese and even contemporary Afghani refugees / settlers. They are not all the same. 

And a belief in a religion that claims to be that of peace while openly hating all that do not agree with their beliefs and condoning the atrocities committed in it's name.

[Trentham]

11 minutes ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

And a belief in a religion that claims to be that of peace while openly hating all that do not agree with their beliefs and condoning the atrocities committed in it's name.

Your "all seeing eye" is shut I think. When Christians were killing each other in Ireland did you brand Christianity a religion of non-peace? Isis is just the Muslim version of Christianity's Klu Klux Klan. Perhaps SOME of the women wear the veil. So What? I was brought up in the Anglican Church and as an altar boy I has to wear a dress. Do you actually know any Muslims or do you just read and listen to all the ultra right creeps spouting their propaganda? They would do the same as Isis is if they could. My doctor is a Muslim as is my pharmacist and one of my close friends. They are all beautiful people. I don't hear you complaining about what the Buddhists are doing to the Muslims in Myanmar. Do you claim Buddhism to be a religion of violence too? Grow up and think for yourself. Nearly all of the violence being perpetrated now by "so called" Muslims is on other Muslims. Use your all seeing eye to discover the truth.

[LammyTS1]

Your "all seeing eye" is shut I think. When Christians were killing each other in Ireland did you brand Christianity a religion of non-peace? Isis is just the Muslim version of Christianity's Klu Klux Klan. Perhaps SOME of the women wear the veil. So What? I was brought up in the Anglican Church and as an altar boy I has to wear a dress. Do you actually know any Muslims or do you just read and listen to all the ultra right creeps spouting their propaganda? They would do the same as Isis is if they could. My doctor is a Muslim as is my pharmacist and one of my close friends. They are all beautiful people. I don't hear you complaining about what the Buddhists are doing to the Muslims in Myanmar. Do you claim Buddhism to be a religion of violence too? Grow up and think for yourself. Nearly all of the violence being perpetrated now by "so called" Muslims is on other Muslims. Use your all seeing eye to discover the truth.

Oh I see, and how many potential Buddhist or Christian bomb attacks have been prevented over the past week?
How many Christian & Buddhist terror attacks have prevailed within Germany & Australia recently?
The press can be so right wing as they never print stories about the Klu Klux Klan and their terrorist bombings in Europe & Australia. Why is that? We never hear about the KKK and their worldwide terrorist network killing hundreds of people on a daily basis?



Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Kiwiken]

12 minutes ago, LammyTS1 said:

Oh I see, and how many potential Buddhist or Christian bomb attacks have been prevented over the past week?
How many Christian & Buddhist terror attacks have prevailed within Germany & Australia recently?
The press can be so right wing as they never print stories about the Klu Klux Klan and their terrorist bombings in Europe & Australia. Why is that? We never hear about the KKK and their worldwide terrorist network killing hundreds of people on a daily basis?



Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

I believe in the West a non Muslim terrorist is called mentally deranged!

[Trentham]

42 minutes ago, LammyTS1 said:

Oh I see, and how many potential Buddhist or Christian bomb attacks have been prevented over the past week?
How many Christian & Buddhist terror attacks have prevailed within Germany & Australia recently?
The press can be so right wing as they never print stories about the Klu Klux Klan and their terrorist bombings in Europe & Australia. Why is that? We never hear about the KKK and their worldwide terrorist network killing hundreds of people on a daily basis?



Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Oh well, I did my best. Go ahead and keep your all seeing eye shut, but then you won't be able to see all the mass murderers coming who are not Muslim.

[ronrat]

The Egyptian has dual citizenship so back to the pyramids for you when your sentence is finished. 

[LammyTS1]

Oh well, I did my best. Go ahead and keep your all seeing eye shut, but then you won't be able to see all the mass murderers coming who are not Muslim.

Islamic terrorism has been the route cause of most terrorist murders in Western Europe, each year since 2004. Western Europe is predominately Christian yet most terrorist murders are committed by Muslims!!!!
What about terrorist organisations in Australia? The main 8 terrorist groups are all Muslim.....



Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[LammyTS1]

I believe in the West a non Muslim terrorist is called mentally deranged!

ALL terrorists are mentally deranged.
Just because they follow a particular religion, does not exempt them. Their small minds have been brainwashed. They should all be locked up in a mental asylum & treated.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Thechook]

20 hours ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

Seven people out of how many hundreds of thousands of immigrants? The biggest foreign-born population in Australian prisons is New Zealanders

Others are already in prison.

[Thechook]

I must admit muslims do intimidate me

[halloween]

Some statistics being quoted in Oz:

In 2.5 years 4 successful attacks, 12 foiled

~800 stopped from leaving oz suspected of intended joining ISIS

57 jailed for terrorism

AU$1.5 BILLION spent upgrading police surveillance

400 police involved in Melbourne raids

 

Just some of the benefits of multiculturalism.

[halloween]

21 hours ago, optad said:

A point to note here is that four of these five are Australian born descendants of Lebanese refugees from the 80's and 90's. Recent arrivals from Iraqi and Syria have other things on their mind. More licentious views should be tempered by this.

 

It principally is a second generation problem of low integration, poor employment prospects, very poor secondary and tertiary education level despite opportunities, and fundamentally preferring some ridiculous romanticised picture as told by their parents because of their own failed expectations.  

 

This group in particular, compare poorly to the Vietnamese and even contemporary Afghani refugees / settlers. They are not all the same. 

 

Lebanese have been in Oz for many years and seem to have integrated quite well. They figure quite prominently in newspaper reports of corrupt politicians (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Obeid)  organised crime, outlaw motorcycle gangs, street violence, drug dealing and rapes.

 

Not all Lebanese immigrants are muslim.

[optad]

7 minutes ago, halloween said:

 

Lebanese have been in Oz for many years and seem to have integrated quite well. They figure quite prominently in newspaper reports of corrupt politicians (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Obeid)  organised crime, outlaw motorcycle gangs, street violence, drug dealing and rapes.

 

Not all Lebanese immigrants are muslim.

 

I made no axiomatic connection between being Lebanese post hoc ergo proptor hoc muslim/ 

 

I stated who the participants were and were not. I also opined many problems were not new arrivals but did comment many socialising problems were those of second generation and in the op's case four are  second gen Lebanese.

 

Agree re the success of the Lebanese community in australia. Most Lebanese are almost more 'Occa' than I. Does not change the incidence of the exceptions.

[halloween]

9 minutes ago, optad said:

 

I made no axiomatic connection between being Lebanese post hoc ergo proptor hoc muslim/ 

 

I stated who the participants were and were not. I also opined many problems were not new arrivals but did comment many socialising problems were those of second generation and in the op's case four are  second gen Lebanese.

 

Agree re the success of the Lebanese community in australia. Most Lebanese are almost more 'Occa' than I. Does not change the incidence of the exceptions.

 

I have been listening to the ABC News radio yesterday. There has been no suggestion that these are "second generation", only that they are Australian citizens. They well be 3rd, 4th or even 5th generation. The Egyptian has been here from an early age.

I only raised the non-muslim question to prevent claims that I was ignoring the possibility to enable muslim bashing.

The fact remains that we have created our own home-grown terrorists by allowing muslim immigration despite the known problems existing in other countries, and now intend to ignore our own problems by inviting more. Authorities ask us to be aware, a nice way of saying don't trust your neighbours.

[optad]

1 minute ago, halloween said:

 

I have been listening to the ABC News radio yesterday. There has been no suggestion that these are "second generation", only that they are Australian citizens. They well be 3rd, 4th or even 5th generation. The Egyptian has been here from an early age.

I only raised the non-muslim question to prevent claims that I was ignoring the possibility to enable muslim bashing.

The fact remains that we have created our own home-grown terrorists by allowing muslim immigration despite the known problems existing in other countries, and now intend to ignore our own problems by inviting more. Authorities ask us to be aware, a nice way of saying don't trust your neighbours.

One of the most common and spurious arguments raised by the ill informed on this topic: Muslims and immigration to Australia.

 

Australia is a signatory to the UNHCR. As a result we have international commitments beyond the politics and rhetoric in canberra. Beyond your vote's influence re policy. This is how Australia can justify the turn back boats policy from international pressure. Come to australia, apply through the international channels. IOM and UNHCR being the most typical.

 

We also have immigration quotas which are always filled in various categories. Humanitarian and asylum taxonomies are relevant here and around 15000 before the added 12000 from syria.  Between the IOM and UNHCR, these refugees are allocated to us from abroad. There is no real choice here, like the sub-saharans who have little organic connection to Australia,  other than changing the quotas or as Tony Abbott tried to separate the Syrian Christians and from the Syrian Muslims. Immediate court action was in the wind. And ironically most of the refugees from Syria in that 11000 are are actually christian any way. 

 

Even if you refine your argument to family reunification visas and you will still find yourself facing other legal problems.

 

'Remaining contemporary' as a framework for seeing things requires constructive consideration on new problems. Not moaning to other generationally tired beings. 

[simple1]

1 hour ago, optad said:

Australia is a signatory to the UNHCR. As a result we have international commitments beyond the politics and rhetoric in Canberra.

 

Australia is not obliged to accept refugees submitted for relocation by UNHCR. Some facts & figures on Australia’s recent refugee and humanitarian intake.

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/getfacts/seekingsafety/resettlement/parliamantary-library-guide/

 

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/resources/publications-external/dibp-annual-report-2015-16/