Wakeley stabbing: Five teenage boys from an alleged 'youth terror cell' charged ... trends now
Five teenagers have been charged with terror and extremism-related offences following an investigation into the horror church stabbing in Sydney's west.
A joint counter-terrorism team, with more than 400 officers from state and federal police, raided 13 homes in the city's south-west at about 11.15am on Wednesday.
The sweeping raids was in response to the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church at Wakeley in western Sydney on April 15.
Police declared the incident - which was broadcast on the church's livestream - as a religiously motivated terror attack and arrested the 16-year-old teen.
On Wednesday, police raided the homes of the alleged attacker's associates after a WhatsApp group found on his phone uncovered an alleged youth terror cell.
Police arrested seven teenagers following an investigation into the alleged associates of the 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed a church bishop in Sydney's west
Police charged five of the teens arrested, with three charged with conspiring to engage in any act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act
It's understood one of the alleged members of the teen terror cell, which police said operates in Sydney's south-west suburbs, is a young relative of an adult who is currently behind bars over terrorism offences.
Police labelled the group as 'religiously motivated violent extremists' and believed the group was 'likely' planning another attack.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson said authorities were forced to act before another terror attack occurred.
'It was considered that the group, subject of their attention, posed an unacceptable risk to the people of New South Wales, and our current purely investigative strategies could not adequately ensure public safety,' Dep Comm Hudson said.
'As a result, we determined that we needed to escalate our activities and that overt action was required.
'We believed, through the investigation, that it was likely that an attack might ensue.
'Their behaviour, whilst under that surveillance, led us to believe that, if they were to commit any act, we would not be able to prevent that.
'No specific targets had been nominated. However, it's just the ongoing threat and loose nature of the group as well.'
Police said there was no specific threat to public safety and the raids had no connection to Anzac Day commemorations on Thursday.
However, the national terrorism threat level remains at 'possible'.
The sweeping raids were in response to the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley
Seven
