POLICE RAID WESTERN SYDNEY HOMES FOLLOWING ‘SUSPECTED THREAT TOWARDS POLICE STATION’
Police say raids at two homes in Sydney’s west this morning were triggered by a suspected threat towards a police station.
Homes on Blackwood Road and Lockwood Street in Merrylands were searched by officers just after 6am today.
NSW Police confirmed the raids were led by the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad (MEOCS) and were in relation to two firearms prohibition orders.
No items of interests were found but police say they are investigating a “threat involving a firearm at a greater Sydney police station”.
MEOCS Commander Detective Superintendent Peter McErlain said police were alerted to the threat around a fortnight ago.
He did not elaborate on how the threat was delivered.
“The Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad commenced the investigation just over two weeks ago, so it’s very, very recent and swift,” Supt McErlain told reporters today.
The Lockwood Street home was previously targeted in October raids, following the shooting murder of police worker Curtis Cheng.
Talal Alameddine, whose family lives at the home, has been charged with allegedly sourcing the gun used by Farhad Jabar to murder Cheng outside police headquarters in Parramatta on October 2.
Mr Alameddine remains in police custody ahead of a court appearance next week.
He was denied bail on November 13 despite offering $5.5m in surety from several of his family’s properties.
NSW Police State Crime Commander Mark Jenkins said the operation was aimed at ensuring the safety of officers and the community.
“We are using all of the tools available to us to investigate some very serious threats against police officers and police premises,” Assistant Commissioner Jenkins said.
“We will continue to do that and we make no apologies for that.
“We will continue our investigations and this may not be the last you see of these searches.”
He urged anyone with information on threats towards police or the community to come forward.
“Any threat to police officers or police premises is of major concern and taken extremely seriously, as demonstrated by the operation we undertook today,” Assistant Commissioner Jenkins said.
“We will continue to take every precaution necessary to protect our officers and the safety of the wider community, and will respond swiftly to any specific threats that are received.
“This matter remains under investigation.
“I would encourage any person who has information about threats to police or to community safety in general to come forward and tell us so we can act on it.”
