Wood scrapings and mincer alleged bomb parts

TWO father and son would-be terror teams linked by marriage are allegedly behind a plot to blow up an international flight out of Sydney using a homemade bomb disguised as an everyday kitchen mincer.

Until last week, the four men — the fathers in their 40s — were totally unknown to the nation’s counter-terrorism authorities, with only one convicted for negligent driving.

But early last week police picked up a “small piece of in- telligence” about the possible “Islamist-inspired” plot to use a crude homemade bomb which had escalated by Thursday, forcing tougher security at Sydney’s international and domestic airports.

It is believed the plot involved smuggling the bomb on to a flight bound for the Middle East, possibly Dubai, hidden in carry-on luggage.

With the men under surveillance, police decided to arrest them on Saturday because they assessed the risk to public safety was too high.

“There was a serious threat that had to be shut down,” one senior officer said yesterday.

Five homes were raided in Surry Hills, Punchbowl, Wiley Park and Lakemba.

It is understood the plan was to use wood scrapings and explosive material inside a kitchen machine, such as a mincing machine.

Police seized several items from one home, including the bottom and top half of a domestic grinder and a box containing a “multi-mincer” used to make sausages.

They also took away two phones, an iPad, two mobile phone SIM packs and vehicle registration and insurance papers.

Material to make a bomb, that was understood to be “ready to go”, was allegedly found at a house in Cleveland St, Surry Hills.

The other two men were arrested in Lakemba, with the younger of the two dressed only in a towel.

The four have not been charged, with police applying to the Federal Court yesterday to hold them for up to seven days before they have to be charged or released under Commonwealth laws.

AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the plan was “Islamist- inspired” and most likely targeted at the aviation industry.

“Terrorists are becoming very ingenious about figuring out new ways to defeat our security mechanisms,” Mr Colvin said.

“We do believe it is Islamic-inspired terrorism. I think this [threat] was credible.”