Fears of extremists carrying out "demonstration killings" led to the country's largest ever anti-terror raids by police, Australia's Prime Minister has said.
More than 800 officers took part in the operation which saw at least 15 people detained and one charged with a serious "terrorism-related" offence.
Police said intelligence indicated a random, violent attack was being planned.
More than 800 police officers were involved in the raids The early morning raids of homes and businesses in Sydney and Brisbane came just days after Australia raised its national terror threat level to "high" for the first time, citing the likelihood of terrorist attacks by Australians radicalised in Iraq or Syria.
Tony Abbott told reporters the operation had been prompted by information that an Australian, who is senior in the Islamic State militant group, had been calling on supporters in Australia to "conduct demonstration killings".
He said: "Quite direct exhortations were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in ISIL to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country.
"This is not just suspicion, this is intent and that's why the police and security agencies decided to act in the way they have."
He did not name the Australian.
A suspect is detained by armed police during the operation Police have issued an arrest warrant for a former Sydney nightclub bouncer Mohammad Ali Baryalei, 33, who is suspected to be Australia's most senior member of the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.
Australian Federal Police Acting Commissioner Andrew Colvin said: "In all 25 search warrants were conducted across the suburbs of Sydney that included in excess of 800 officers.
"Those 800 officers comprised a range of different police skills and capabilities, obviously investigators, forensics experts, specialist tactical officers, surveillance officers and the like and as you've seen reported and as has been said already it is the largest of its type undertaken in Australia's history."
He added: "Police believe that this group that we have executed this operation on today had the intention and had started to carry out planning to commit violent acts here in Australia.
A police forensic expert gathers evidence at a property in Sydney "Those violent acts particularly related to random acts against members of the public.
"So what we saw today and the operation that continues was very much about police disrupting the potential for violence against the Australian community at the earliest possible opportunity."
Sydney is home to around half of Australia's 500,000 Muslims live in Sydney, with the majority living in the western suburbs where the raids were carried out.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the operation showed the reality of the threat facing Australia.
He said: "You know it is of serious concern that right at the heart of our communities we have people that are planning to conduct random attacks.
"Today we work together to make sure that didn't happen. We have disrupted that particular attack."
Police chiefs said the operation highlighted the reality of the threat Australia, which is due to host the G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane in mid-November, is concerned over the number of its citizens believed to be fighting overseas with Islamist militant groups.
Mr Scipione said: "Our police will continue to work tirelessly to prevent any such attacks but certainly can I stress that right now, is a time for calm.
"We don't need to whip this up.
"We need to let people know that they are safe and certainly from our perspective we know that the work this morning will ensure that all of those plans that may have been on foot have been thwarted."
Up to 160 Australians have either been involved in the fighting in the Middle East or actively supporting it, officials said.
At least 20 are believed to have returned to Australia and pose a national security risk, the head of the country's spy agency said when raising the threat level last week.
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