Sydney: Australian police raided the headquarters of public broadcaster ABC on Wednesday, the second high-profile probe into news outlets in 24 hours, amid a crackdown on sensitive leaks. ABC executives said police searched the corporation's offices in Sydney, targeting three journalists involved in a two-year-old investigative report. In 2017, ABC obtained government documents that showed Australian special forces had killed innocent men and children in Afghanistan.

The Australian Federal Police said the search was "in relation to allegations of publishing classified material, contrary to provisions of the Crimes Act 1914." ABC executive editor John Lyons said the search warrant demands access to reporters' handwritten notes, emails, story drafts, footage and passwords, among other things. "It is highly unusual for the national broadcaster to be raided in this way," said managing director David Anderson, as the organisation tried to win legal redress. A day earlier police raided a journalist's home in Canberra over a report that detailed the authorities' bid to gain powers to spy on Australian citizens communications at home.