

Two Brisbane men have been arrested over alleged terrorism-related offences following a raid on an Islamic centre south of the city.
It will be alleged the men were involved in recruiting, facilitating and funding people to travel to Syria to engage in hostile activities.
• ASIO could raise terror threat
The arrests resulted from a Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigation carried out by agencies including the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police Service.
Authorities will provide details about the arrests at a 4pm press conference.
|
The arrests come a day after ASIO chief David Irvine said the spy organisation was considering raising the terror threat level from medium to high, meaning an attack on Australian soil is considered “likely”.
Federal police raided iQraa Islamic Centre, in the Logan suburb of Underwood, about 11am on Wednesday. Related raids were also carried out a number of other properties.
One of the centre’s founders is believed to be the brother of Abu Asma al Australi, who is suspected of being the first Australian suicide bomber to die in Syria.
The iQraa Islamic Centre is also believed to have hosted a lecture this year on what followers should do if they were contacted by ASIO.

And last month, the centre signed a statement from the wider Muslim community denouncing the Abbott government’s proposals to strengthen counter-terrorism laws, including making it easier for authorities to identify, charge and prosecute people who have been engaged in training, fighting or supporting terrorist activities overseas.
“The primary basis of these laws is a trumped up ‘threat’ from ‘radicalised’ Muslims returning from Iraq or Syria,” the statement signed by iQraa and others read.
|
“There is no solid evidence to substantiate this threat.”
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has told parliament there’s no immediate danger.
“While there is no immediate danger, we will remain on alert and keep Queenslanders informed,” he said.
He said he was aware of raids on a number of properties in the Brisbane area.
He said he’d been in constant contact with Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, Police Minister Jack Dempsey and federal authorities about the operation.
Mr Newman said the raids included targets in the greater Brisbane area.
“At this time, two people are in custody with charges yet to be finalised. The matter remains an ongoing, operational investigation,” he told parliament.
He noted the ASIO chief’s comments that Australia’s terror threat level was under consideration.
“The safety of all Queenslanders is this government’s number one priority,” Mr Newman said.
“We may never escape the potential for extremists who do not like our way of life, but we will always stand opposed to those who are against democracy.”
Investigators at the Islamic centre have been removing evidence from the scene and loading it into a van.
Media organisations have published photos of items allegedly found at the centre, including an arrow and styrofoam head pockmarked with puncture holes.
It’s understood the nearby Alpha Gym, also in Underwood, was among the sites raided on Wednesday.