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Australian Police Arrest 5 Men Seeking to Join Islamic State

CBN

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Australian police are carrying out raids across Melbourne after arresting five men who planned to travel to Syria to fight for the Islamic State.

Reuters reports that the five men between the ages of 21 and 31 were charged with attempting to enter a foreign company "for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities." The men were caught trying to sail to Syria via a motorboat.  

The operation also netted another suspect who was planning an attack on Australian soil. Police arrested an 18-year-old who'd been studying possible targets and trying to buy a firearm.

"We will allege that this individual was looking at possible sites in Sydney to undertake a terrorist attack and was making arrangements to acquire a firearm," Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters.

He's been charged with planning a terror attack and seeking to join ISIS in Syria.

The recent arrests reflect the heightened state of alert Australia has been in to prevent any terror attacks. 

Recently, one jihadist seized a cafe in Sydney, killing two people. In 2014, Australian police shot a Melbourne teenager after he launched a stabbing attack on two counter-terrorism officers. 

So far, 100 people have left Australia to wage jihad with the Islamic State. 

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