A tip-off from Australian Federal Police has led to the arrest of nine terror-suspects in Indonesia alleged to be planning a series of end of year attacks.
The arrests came as Australian Foreign and Defence Ministers were meeting their Indonesian counterparts in Sydney.
Ellie Laing reports.
With intelligence suggesting attacks were imminent, Indonesian Police swooped on five different locations across the country's most populated island of Java.
Officials say the suspects were spread out, but were working together as part of an Islamic State-inspired terror cell.
The Police Chief in the East Java town of Mojokerto, Budi Susianto, told the media some of the suspects were members of Jemah Islamiah - a group with links to Al-Qaeda.
"Just now the Densus team searched the scene and found some evidence that is suspected of belonging to the terrorist suspects who are on the wanted list."
Indonesian police say in the raids they uncovered bomb-making materials, a black 'I-S-style' flag and so-called 'jihad manuals'.
At one site, local media was shown a big hole under a tree where police say they dug up chemicals and weapons that had been buried.
Among those arrested was a teacher from an Muslim school and a student, who was allegedly being 'groomed'.
It's not clear what sites the suspects were allegedly targeting.
But Police Chief Budi Susianto says it's believed they were preparing to strike soon.
"They planned to launch some attacks recently -- especially during Christmas and New Year. Therefore [the police team] carried out the arrest now to make sure the celebration is carried out in a conducive way."
The Australian Federal Police has confirmed it and the FBI was working with the Indonesian National Police, sharing security information, to shape the investigations.
Indonesia has endured a spate of mass-casuality attacks - including the 2002 Bali Bombings which claimed 88 Australian lives.
As police searched for more suspects, the news was still filtering through to a meeting of Indonesian and Australian Foreign and Defence Ministers in Sydney.
They were cautious about revealing any details about the operation, but Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop commended the action taken by Indonesian authorities.
"In this instance it would appear the Indonesian Police have been very successful in thwarting an attempted terrorist activity."
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Ibu Retno Marsudi acknowledged Australia's role in providing security intelligence.
"On the intelligence-sharing information, this is one of the most important issue that we have to do under the context of the counter terrorism co-operation."
Australia's Defence Minister Marise Payne says the two countries have signed-off on a new counter-terrorism partnership.
She says they also agreed to review and renew what's known as the Defence Co-Operation Agreement.
"For us, maintaining a secure and stable region is an absolute strategic priority."
Indonesian officials says despite the suspects' arrest, the threat of an attack remains.
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