Anatomy of a terrorist cell: a study of the network uncovered in Sydney in 2005

This study conducts a Social Network Analysis on the neojihadist cell uncovered in Sydney in 2005. Detailed material is compiled and analysed to reveal a 10-man operational cell of Australian residents with an identifiable leadership, core and periphery. Although the cell was home-grown in origin, the group's genesis is traced to several members' interactions with international terrorist networks which previously operated in Australia. Indeed, the cell was far from an isolated entity, with a peripheral network of eight individuals identified as assisting in the group's formation and activities. A separate Social Network Analysis also demonstrated that the cell was interacting with a simultaneously developing neojihadist network in Melbourne. Upon analysing these connections it was revealed that these communications influenced both the ideological direction of the Sydney cell and provided the group with operational support.