Australian police conduct massive anti-terrorism raids Thursday to thwart planned acts of violence against the public.
Hundreds of heavily armed police in Sydney and Brisbane stormed into homes and businesses before dawn and have detained at least 15 people.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE ACTING COMMISSIONER ANDREW COLVIN SAYING:
"Police believe that this group that we have executed this operation on today had the intention and had started to carry out planning to commit violent acts here in Australia. Those violent acts particularly related to random acts against members of the public."
Local media say authorities had information that the group supported Islamic State and were planning attacks that included snatching someone and executing them on camera.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER TONY ABBOTT SAYING:
"That's the intelligence we received. The exhortations, quite direct e
