DHAKA: The Australian government will introduce tough new legislation in Parliament next week to tackle terrorism, reports said on Saturday, in the aftermath of the biggest crackdown in the country’s history.

Australia prime minister Tony Abbott will seek sweeping counter-terror powers when the proposals go before the house on Wednesday, NewsCorp Australia reported.

Thursday’s unprecedented raids in Sydney and Brisbane had foiled a plot by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) jihadists to carry out gruesome ‘demonstration executions’ which could have taken place within days, Abbott said.

Security has also been stepped up in the capital Canberra, and at military bases, airports and sporting events after Parliament and government officials had been mentioned as potential targets in ‘chatter’ between extremist networks in the Middle East and Australia.

BDST: 1447 1130 HRS, SEP 20, 2014