[AnNahar] Four assailants in a vehicle bearing the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original...
(ISIL) drove past the Maronite Our Lady of Leb Church in Sydney, shouting death threats to church-goers, media reports said on Thursday.
"Four youth in an unknown car and waving the flag of ISIL drove by the church threatening church-goers with murder and with slaughtering their children," the parish custodian, Monseigneur Shora Maree, revealed.
The assailants caused panic among people as the Australian police is investigating the incident to identify the four youth.
"This is now in the hands of police who are fully investigating. Please do not respond to or circulate any other version of the truth on social media as it creates unnecessary panic," Maree said in a statement.
On Thursday, Australia's largest ever counter-terrorism raids detained 15 people and foiled a plot by Islamic State jihadists to conduct "demonstration killings", reportedly including beheading a member of the public on camera.
The Australian government believes up to 60 Australians are fighting alongside jihadists for Islamic State, while another 100 were actively working to support the movement at home.
The latest raids followed the arrests of two people last week in Brisbane who were charged with allegedly recruiting, funding and sending jihadist fighters to Syria.