SYDNEY - Australian police shot dead a teenager after he stabbed two counterterrorism officers, days after sweeping raids involving hundreds of police thwarted what they said was an imminent plot to behead a member of the public. Australia, a staunch ally of the United States and its escalating action against ISIS, is on high alert for attacks by home-grown militants returning from fighting in the Middle East.

The 18-year-old, named in parliament as Abdul Numan Haider, was asked to attend a police station in the southern state of Victoria on Tuesday night because his behaviour was "causing concern," police said. "This was a planned and agreed meeting," Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay told reporters on Wednesday. "When these two police officers approached him, they were stabbed, one very seriously." Police said the man, who had his passport suspended about a week ago, had apparently displayed a flag linked to ISIS at a local shopping mall. "I can advise that the person in question was a known terror suspect who was a person of interest to law enforcement and intelligence agencies," Justice Minister Michael Keenan told reporters. Both officers were in a stable condition in hospital, with one undergoing surgery after he was stabbed in the head, stomach and neck.

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- Reuters