Five arrested in anti-terror raids across Melbourne
10 minutes ago April 18, 2015 12:01PM
FIVE men are in custody after police launched counter-terrorist raids across Melbourne in the early hours of this morning.
Seven search warrants and around 200 police officers were involved in the raids.
Police believe they foiled an “imminent” terrorist plot targeting officers at “Anzac events.”
At a joint Victoria Police and Australian Federal Police press conference this morning police said they believed the group were not working in conjunction with other organisations but were “Isis inspired”.
“At this stage we have no evidence that it was a planned beheading” AFP counter-terrorism chief Neil Gaughan said.
But he admitted: “this particulate matter was ISIS inspired.”
“The persons involved in this are individuals acting by themselves,” and were not representative of any religion, group or culture officers said.
Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the attacks could have occurred any day.
“We believe the attack could have occurred at any time within the next week,” he said.
He confirmed the men were associates of Abdul Numan Haider who was shot dead by anti-terrorist police in September but stressed that as the investigation is ongoing “the presumption of innocence is paramount.”
A major concern of the police was the young age of the men involved.
“We need to have intervention strategies to make sure they don’t do down this path,” He said
“People should not feel anxious by this, the community should feel comfortable that we’re out there doing our job,” DC Patton said.
Earlier it was revealed the AFP were involved in multiple counter-terrorism raids across six properties in south eastern suburbs from 4am, Herald Sunreports.
In a statement, Victoria Police said it, along with the AFP, executed a number of warrants following a major Melbourne Joint Counter Terrorism Team operation.
Investigators allege two of the men were planning an attack in Australia targeting police officers.
“Operation Rising has resulted in the execution of seven search warrants in the South Eastern Metropolitan area and the arrest of five men.
“An 18-year-old Hallam man and an 18-year-old Hampton Park man have been arrested regarding terrorism-related offences,” the statement said.
“It is alleged the men were undertaking preparations for planning a terrorist act in Australia, which included targeting police officers.
A third man, an 18-year-old from Narre Warren was arrested over weapons offences.
“Two men, an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old both from Narre Warren, are also in custody assisting police with inquiries.”
Neighbours have told the Heral Sun of how they were woken by screams in the early morning.
“I’m quite a heavy sleeper but got woken up by a metallic banging kind of sound and just a whole flurry of screaming for about 30 seconds and then it deadened down,” said one neighbour.
Residents said the teens seemed like normal young men and were shocked by this morning’s events.
“I know them, the boys. They’ve always been lovely guys. When my husband has been taken in the ambulance, they’ve been here to help. I’m really torn,” said one neighbour.
Searches are continuing at several addresses in the South Eastern Metropolitan area.
Investigations are ongoing.
