News Digest

Australia terror duo video pledge: We will stab blonds in the neck and kidneys

Two men charged with planning a terror attack in Australia planned to stab their victims in the kidneys and neck, according to Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The men, linked to the Islamic State, were seen on video saying what they intended to do, Abbott revealed, accusing a 24-year-old and a 25-year-old of “monstrous extremism”. The planned attack was foiled on Wednesday when a tip-off led to police raiding a home in a Sydney suburb and arresting the two men. Abbott said he had been shown the video and gave a detailed account of its contents which seemed to involve a plot to stab or behead Australian citizens.

I swear to almighty Allah, blond people, there is no room for blame between you and us. We only are… stabbing the kidneys and striking the necks.

Words from a video made by the arrested men

Australia is a strong supporter of U.S. and allied policy towards the so-called Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq and has tightened up laws on foreign fighters and given security forces greater powers. Two hostages were killed in Sydney last December when police stormed a cafe to end a 17-hour siege. Gunman Man Haron Monis was also killed. He had claimed affinity with IS but there had been no evidence of actual links between him and the terror cult.