THE horrors of the Islamic State hit far too close to home yesterday after it was revealed random public beheadings in Australia were urged by leaders of the terrorist group.
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The nation’s biggest-ever anti-terrorism raids across Sydney and Queensland involving 800 police came a week after our terror alert level was raised to high.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott later said an Australian senior in the Islamic State organisation had urged “demonstration killings” of Australians on our home soil.
The alleged plan was to “shock and horrify” Australians through the gruesome executions of ordinary people.
The revelations come as Australian Defence Force personnel prepare to head to the Middle East yesterday as part of a coalition to disrupt the Islamic State’s operations.
Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin said the mission was not another Iraq “war”.
“War would give them a legitimacy that they don’t deserve,” Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin said.
There would still be those that say we have no part to play in countering terrorism on foreign shores.
But if the information revealed yesterday turns out to be wholly accurate, then we can barely kid ourselves we are not in it up to our necks already.