Sydney terror raids: Security increased at airports around country after police foil plot to blow up domestic flight

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned travellers to arrive at airports two hours earlier with tightened security and increased screening security in the wake of a terror plot to blow up a domestic flight.

• Evil terror plot to blow up plane

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned people to expect tighter airport security in the wake of a terror plot to blow up a domestic flight.

Speaking in Sydney following yesterday’s terror raids, Mr Turnbull confirmed there had been a “major joint counter-terrorism operation to disrupt a terrorist plot to bring down an aeroplane”.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses the media following counter terror raids held in Sydney. Picture: AAP

“Be assured that our number on priority is to keep you safe,” he told reporters.

“That is our focus, that is our determination.”

Mr Turnbull said measures put in place at Sydney airport on Thursday have now been extended to all major airports at domestic and international terminals around the country overnight.

“Now this ensures national consistency of our aviation security arrangements,” he said.

“Some of the measures will be obvious to the public, some will not be.

Police raid a house in Surry Hills yesterday. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“Travellers should be prepared for additional scrutiny at screening points, and while it is important that Australians are aware of the increased threat — be assured we have the finest security and intelligence services in the world and they are working, as is my government, and all our governments around Australia, night and day, to keep Australians safe.”

Travellers have been warned to arrive two hours earlier because of “additional scrutiny” and bag checks and to limit baggage where possible.

The measures come aftercounter terrorism police, supported by fire crews and paramedics, last night raided five properties at Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl and a terrace on Goodlet Lne, Surry Hills, in the inner city.

Four men have been arrested over the alleged plot to blow up a domestic flight.

The raids had been planned for ­several days and are understood to have been brought forward for ­operational reasons. Four men were arrested and are currently being questioned by police.

The searches of the five properties raided is expected to go on for days, forcing authorities to seek a court ruling allowing them to keep the men in custody for longer before laying any potential charges.

Mr Turnbull said the threat of terror in Australian was “very real”.

Police are continuing to search five properties in Sydney, including one in Lakemba which was raided last night.

He said the government’s terror alert level remained at “probable” and that travelers should limit carry on and checked baggage to ease delays at airports.

The family who lived in the raided house on Cleveland Street in Surry Hills have been described as “perfectly nice and normal people” by a neighbour.

“We knew them to say hello to and they seemed nice,” the woman in her early 30s, who didn’t want to be identified, told AAP.

An elderly couple lived in the home, the neighbour said, and they had adult children.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said plan was Islamist inspired and likely targeted at the aviation industry.

“Terrorists are becoming very ingenious about figuring out new ways to defeat our security mechanisms,” Commissioner Colvin said.

“We think this (threat) was credible.”

Police at a Punchbowl address raided by counter-terrorism police. Picture: Steve Tyson

He would not confirm whether police had discovered an explosive device at the property but said “we have found a number of items that are of great interest”.

Mr Colvin said he did not want to detail specifics in the increased screening process.

“But what people can expect is there’s an increased police and security agency presence,” he said.

“You can expect longer delays to make sure that more screening is being done on baggage, both hold luggage as well as hand luggage.

“The travelling public just need to be aware to get about their business, go to the airport as you normally would, but give themselves more time.”

Where the raids were.

When asked if any of the four men arrested were on a terror watch list, Commissioner Colvin said “that’s sensitive information”.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan said new resources and powers given to anti-terror agencies since 2014 had resulted in 13 major disruptions of domestic terror plots and 70 people being charged through 31 counter-terrorism operations.

“The primary threat to Australians still remains lone actors but the events overnight remind us that there is still the ability for people to have sophisticated plots,” Mr Keenan.