Previously considered the largest anti-terrorist raid, it uncovered jihadist cells in Melbourne and Sydney amassing guns, ammunition and bomb-making equipment to use in terrorist attacks on home soil. Nine Sydney men were arrested and charged in Melbourne.

Those arrested include:

Khaled Sharrouf Convicted of conspiracy to do acts in preparation for a terrorist act. Obtained six clocks and 140 batteries to be used in bombs. The 33 year-old father of five from Punchbowl is married to convert Tara Nettleton. Sentenced to four years, released in 2009. Sharrouf later came to prominence as the man whose seven-year-old son was pictured holding a severed head.

Khaled Cheikho Khaled was described as the ringleader of the Sydney cell. Born in Lebanon as one of 11, he is a 42 year-old father of one. Sentenced to 20 years.

Moustafa Cheikho Khaled's nephew was found with explosives and bomb-making tools. The 38 year-old father and mechanic was described by a judge as having low self-esteem. Sentenced to 19½ years.

Mohamed Ali Elomar Described in court as the "puppet master" of the Sydney cell and given the longest prison term due to his leadership role. The married father of six, who operated his own drafting business, would be 50 years old. Sentenced to 21 years.

OTHER MAJOR ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATIONS

September 2014

180 heavily armed counter-terrorism officers raided homes and businesses in Brisbane's south allegedly involved in the recruitment and financing of foreign fighters in Syria.

As a result of a year-long investigation by state and federal agencies, two men remain in custody and are due to face court.

One of them has been identified as Omar Succarieh, the suspected brother of Australia's first suicide bomber in Syria.

Operation Astley, September 2012

A joint federal and state anti-terrorism that focused on 12 properties, most of them in Melbourne's south-east. Connected with activities at the Al Furqan centre in the south-eastern suburb of Springvale. Police seized computers, imitation firearms and registered firearms in the raids and are laying terrorism facilitation charges against Adnan Karabegovic, 26.

August 2010

Police launched anti-terror raids across Melbourne, Sydney and Perth in a bid to establish funding links with separatist organisation the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). 17 Kurdish properties in three states. In a joint blitz, police executed a number of search warrants as part of their investigation into organisations funding overseas terrorists.

Operation Neath, 2009

Australian security agencies foiled an al-Shabab associated plot to attack Holsworthy Army Barracks in Sydney. After a raid on 19 sites in Melbourne, five men were charged, three were convicted.

Wissam Fattal, Saney Edow Aweys and Nayef El Sayed were convicted of planning to attack the barracks. The men had sought weapons, dispatched others for training, conducted reconnaissance of Holsworthy Barracks and asked senior al-Shabab religious figures in Somalia for permission to attack Australian targets.

Involved federal, Victorian and NSW police, ASIO and the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions – about 150 police, intelligence agents and officials in total. Considered one of the largest raids.