The Australian police revealed a planned murder plot linked to Operation Ironside
The Australian police revealed two planned assassination attempts, both which they believe are linked to Operation Ironside.
The Comancheros bikie gang are allegedly behind one of the murder plots. The foiled plan included gunning down the target in a popular Adelaide cafe strip using a machine gun.
“The alleged victim was to be lured to a restaurant or cafe, and was to be gunned down when he left,” Assistant Commissioner Peter Harvey said.
Members of the Comancheros conspired to murder a man by “gunning him down” with a machine gun as he left a cafe on ‘The Parade’ in Adelaide, Australia
Police say the gang suspected the intended victim was a police informant
“The victim, according to our intelligence, was one of their own… It’s unbelievable the level of violence and distrust amongst this group,” Assistant Commissioner Harvey said.
Police say Comancheros members hid the gun in some bushes.
“It was hidden in bushes, and it was also accompanied by two fully-loaded magazines, 32 rounds, all set to go,” Assistant Commissioner Harvey said.
“There was also some petrol nearby, gloves et cetera. All the markings of hiding the evidence of the killing after it happened, in other words burning the motorbike.”
Another plot included assassinating a target in their suburban home.
The FBI and AFP ran a “secure messaging” app for 3 years. Now they’re arresting hundreds of criminals who talked about crimes on AN0M 🚨👇https://t.co/K8NPFsB8Ar
Earlier this week, Australian police cracked down on the international drug trafficking ring. Operation Ironside targeted an encrypted communications app, which police were secretly monitoring.
The sting has led to hundreds of arrests of organised crime figures in 18 different countries. Mafia bosses, bikies, South American drug cartels, Asian triads, Middle Eastern and European crime syndicates were all caught up in the sting.
Police said they uncovered 21 murder plots and seized more than 3,000 kilograms of drugs and $35 million in cash.
Investigators intercepted 25 million messages sent on the ANOM, viewing the communications in real time.
300 search warrants were carried out across Australia on Monday night, with simultaneous stings in the US and Europe, according to reports from the ABC.
Police say they have exposed the secret relationships between bikies and syndicates who were thought to be enemies.
“This is a watershed moment in Australian law enforcement history”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have suffered defeat in two parliamentary by-elections
UK Conservatives have lost two crucial seats in England, which could spark concerns about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s future.
The centrist Liberal Democrat party won the seats of Tiverton and Honiton.
The seats are in a Conservative part of south-west England, where a majority of 24,000 has been overturned.
The Liberal Democrats say it is their biggest ever majority turn around at a parliamentary by election.
“Tonight, the people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for Britain. They’ve sent a loud and clear message: It’s time for Boris Johnson to go, and go now.”
winning candidate Richard Foord
The losses have renewed calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign after a police investigation into gatherings at his Downing Street offices.
Johnson recently survived a vote of no-confidence, which secured his term as Prime Minister for another 12 months.
It also follows the Conservatives winning a landslide majority in three decades during the last national election.
Protesters are causing disruptions during an address by China’s Ambassador to Australia
Xiao Qian is in Sydney, where is he speaking about how to improve ties between the two countries.
One protester described Mr Xiao as a “representative of a dictatorship” and accused the Chinese Government of committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims.
Others were heard shouting “Free Tibet”, and another was asked to leave the venue prior to the event because he was dressed in a military costume.
The speech was widely seen as an attempt to ease relations between the two countries.
China has put trade sanctions on Australia, while a recent encounter took place between a Chinese fighter jet and an Australian maritime aircraft over the South China Sea.
Security guards reportedly ushered the protesters.