Turkey arrests Islamic State member over alleged plot to attack Anzac dawn service

The chief of Australia’s defence force says the Anzac Cove ceremony was always going to go ahead, despite a shock terror arrest in Turkey just hours before the event kicked off.

The Anzac Day dawn service at Gallipoli was never in doubt, Australia’s chief of defence force Angus Campbell says, despite a terror arrest in Turkey just hours before the ceremony at Anzac Cove.

“The service would always go ahead, the Turkish government, the Turkish military, the Turkish people are incredibly generous and supportive,” he said at Anzac Cove after the Dawn Service.

Alicia Farthing from Mildura was among the Australians who attended the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

“| was very confident that this service would go ahead, there was no question of that and very securely as it has for decades.”

He said he had been briefed on the arrest but did not divulge any further details, pointing inquiries to the Turkish authorities.

A bagpiper performs during the Dawn Service ceremony at the Anzac Cove beach. Picture: AP

The Department of Veterans Affairs has confirmed that 1431 people attended the Gallipoli Dawn Service, with Australian, New Zealand and Turkish flags flying.

Earlier, Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed a clear link between the arrest of an alleged terrorist in Turkey and a plot to attack the Gallipoli Anzac Day service.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison spends Anzac Day in Townsville, where he drank beer with current and former serving soldiers. Picture: Gary Ramage

The PM has a beer with LNP candidate Phillip Thompson in Townsville. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Morrison said advice he has received on the alleged terror plotter showed the person was arrested about three hours from the Gallipoli memorial service site.

“I note the media reports about this. I would simply say it is fairly routine for Turkish authorities to arrest people with suspected terrorist links,” Mr Morrison said.

“The reports we are receiving are inconclusive about any links between that arrest and any possible planned event at Gallipoli itself.”

“In fact to make that assumption would be to make a very, very big assumption.”

Patriotic Aussies were visibily moved at the Anzac Cove Dawn Service. Picture: AP

Melburnians Stephanie Stockman and Bryn Phillpot-Evans attended the ceremony. Ms Stockman said it had always been her dream to travel to Gallipoli. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Brisbane man Brian Calabria attended the service to honour his great uncle Albert Ernest Nelson, who was buried at the Lone Pine cemetery. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

The Prime Minister said “normal precautions” had been carried out between Turkey and Australia’s security and military services.

“We thank them for that cooperation. There is the normal travel advice that relates and the threat level which is... unchanged. There have been no changes to that today,” he said.

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The Anzac Day service in Gallipoli has gone ahead despite the arrest of an alleged terrorist Picture: AP

The service had been under a cloud following comments from Turkish President Recep Erdogan that he would send Australian tourists home in coffins.

The comments came after the Christchurch massacre of Muslims, which was allegedly carried out by Australian Brenton Tarrant.

Stephanie Stockman, 29, of Melbourne said she had always watched the Gallipoli service on television and wanted to see it for herself.

Major General Mark Kelly, of the Department of Veterans Affairs, said the service was to honour those who had died and to recognise that those who were once our adversaries are “now our firm friends.”

.@ScottMorrisonMP: It is fairly routine for Turkish authorities to arrest people with suspected terrorist links. The reports that we are receiving are inconclusive about any link between that arrest and any possible planned event at Gallipoli itself

MORE: https://t.co/0IvelkUXDA pic.twitter.com/NFGQTTG7TZ

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 25, 2019

As dawn broke, families of soldiers, leaders and visitors gathered near former battlefields, honouring thousands of ANZACS who fought in the Gallipoli campaign. Picture: AP

Labor leader Bill Shorten said he had requested security briefings, and expected they would be carried out within the next day.

As thousands flocked to Anzac commemorations across Australia, the Syrian national with links to Islamic State was arrested on suspicion he planned to carry out a terrorist attack on today’s service at Gallipoli.

Mr Shorten responded to the arrest, saying Australians must not let the threat of terror stop the Anzac tradition.

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A woman is checked by Turkish military police at a security checkpoint in order to enter the dawn service ceremony at the Anzac Cove beach. Picture: AP

“Just because there are terrorists in the world, we can’t let them win by discouraging us from travelling,” Mr Shorten told reporters in Darwin. “Anzac Day is a sacred day. We can’t afford to let these extremists discourage us.” He said the “marvellous” tradition of Australians, particularly young people, travelling to former WWI battlefields abroad should be maintained.

The suspect, Abdulkerim Hilef, 25, who was born in Eastern Syria, was arrested in Tekirdağ, a couple of hours from Gallipoli.

It is understood, from sources, police believe he was planning to either bomb the Anzac Cove Dawn Service or use a car to drive into people.

A Turkish soldier stands guard during the international service in recognition of the Gallipoli campaign, Turkey, April 24, 2019. Picture: AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

The arrest came after a police operation in Osmaniye, close to the Syrian border, where Turkish police raided an Islamic State cell and arrested several people. Those arrests led to Abdulkerim Hilef.

Police seized a Samsung phone and its SIM card along with a second SIM card and mobile phone communication was involved in the arrests.

AUSSIES, KIWIS PAY TRIBUTE

Australian, New Zealand and Turkish flags flew at half mast as the sun rose over Anzac Cove in Gallipoli this morning.

A crowd of 1434 people paid their respects.

A cool wind came off the cliffs as letters were read out from soldiers who had fought here more than a century ago.

About 1300 Australians and New Zealanders paid their respects. Picture: AP

All in attendance passed through airport style security, with screening taking up to 90 minutes.

A band played as the events of the first dawn raid on this day in 1915 were recounted.

Soldiers spent three hours travelling from ships more than two miles off shore, many to their deaths.

Brian Calabria, 63, of Brisbane, attends the service to honour his great uncle Albert Ernest Nelson, who was buried at the Lone Pine cemetery.

“I’m the first relative of his to visit here in 100 years,” he said.

Mr Calabria’s grandfather also served in World War Two and he spent 21 years in the military.

He was wearing their medals at the service.

Army officers observe a minute of silence during the dawn service ceremony in Gallipoli. Picture: AP

Alicia Farthing, 20, of Mildura in Victoria, came to Gallipoli to pay her respects.

“I just want to remember,” she said.

Stephanie Stockman, 29, of Melbourne, said she had always watched the Gallipoli service on television and wanted to see it for herself.

Major General Mark Kelly, of the Department of Veterans Affairs, said the service was to honour those who had died and to recognise that those who were once our adversaries are “now our firm friends.”

Bill Shorten making a statement to the media after attending the 2019 ANZAC dawn service in Darwin. Picture Kym Smith

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester confirmed one person had been arrested in Turkey.

“Turkish National Police have arrested an individual who is alleged to have been involved in activities that were designed to disrupt the Anzac Day services at Gallipoli,” he told ABC Radio National.

Syrian national Abdulkerim Hilef has been arrested for IS terror plot on Gallipoli's dawn service. Picture: Supplied

The Australian delegation running the service has yet to respond to the arrest.

Turkish officials have said that a mobile phone carried by the suspect, who was linked to Islamic State, would be at the centre of the investigation.

Local media report the man was arrested because of telecommunications with known IS figures.

Representatives of the New Zealand Defence Force lay a wreath during the ANZAC Day dawn service at Cranmer Square in Christchurch. Picture: Getty

Veterans look on during the ANZAC Day dawn service in Christchurch. Picture: Getty

Members of New Zealand armed forces attend the international service in recognition of the Gallipoli campaign. Picture: AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

Several thousand Turkish police and soldiers have been deployed to protect the services.

“The Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the New Zealand Defence Force (joint lead agencies) are aware of Turkish media reports that the Turkish National Police has arrested an individual who is alleged to be involved in activities designed to disrupt Anzac services at Gallipoli,” the statement said.

“This is a matter for the Turkish Authorities.

“Australian and New Zealand agencies are liaising with the responsible Turkish authorities in relation to this media reporting.”

The DVA said that the services planned for dawn local time would go ahead. “ Planning and preparations for the Anzac commemorations at Gallipoli are continuing,” the statement said.

Crowds attend the dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Picture: Getty

Anzac Day services in Gallipoli went ahead, despite threats of a error attack. Picture: Supplied

Australians at the Boomerang bar in Eceabat, about 15 minutes drive from Anzac Cove were in shock at the reports of the arrest.

Sherrisa Bradshaw, 26, and Joel Mackellar, 32, who are from Brisbane but currently live in London said they had been worried about the potential for an attack.

“We thought about the threat of an attack after what happened in New Zealand,” Ms Bradshaw said.

Joel Mackellar, 32, and Sherissa Bradshaw, 26, from Brisbane at the Boomerang cafe in Eceabat, Turkey. They are shocked by news of an arrest of a suspected terrorist. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

The comments of Turkish president Recep Erdogan had raised concerns, but the couple said they were confident in the security arrangements.

“We we’re keeping a close eye on things after those comments,” Mr Mackellar said.

The couple’s tour bus was stopped on the way into Eceabat today with all passengers passports checked.

Mesut Ercel, owner of the Boomerang cafe in Eceabat, says that the arrest of a suspect terrorist in nearby Tekirdag will not ruin the Anzac Day commemorations. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

News Corp was also stopped near Tekirdağ at a road block two days ago for a driver’s licence check.

Australians at the Boomerang Bar were scared at news of the arrest but they were determined to pay their respects.

Natalie Crouch, 29, originally from Hobart but now based in London, was attending Gallipoli with her mother Heather Crouch, 57.

“At first I was super scared but the more I think about it the plot has been foiled so it’s better because there will be more security in place,” Ms Crouch said.

“But I definitely thought about whether I should be going.”

Heather Crouch said: “I was the one who encouraged Natalie to come to the service, it’s just something I have always wanted to do. I have always watched it on TV and I thought I always wanted to do that.”

Natalie Crouch, 29 and Heather Crouch, 57 from Hobart in Eceabat before the Anzac dawn service. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Jack Crameri 32 from Melbourne in Eceabat before the Anzac dawn service. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Jack Crameri, 32, of Melbourne said he would press ahead with plans to attend the ceremony.

“Neither Australia or Turkey can afford for anything to go wrong there,” he said.

“I was in Russia for the World Cup and they were worried about security and I felt extremely safe there and I don’t expect it to be any different here.”