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Men arrested in Melbourne over alleged 'ISIS-inspired' Anzac Day terrorist plot

Updated 21 minutes ago

Video: Five arrested after joint counterterrorism operation (ABC News)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-18/five-arrested-in-melbourne-after-joint/6402946

Related Story: Who are radical Islamic group Al-Furqan?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-24/abdul-numan-haider-once-connected-with-islamic-group-al-furqan/5766220

Related Story: Officials name man shot dead in Melbourne by anti-terrorist officers
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-24/police-name-man-shot-dead-outside-melbourne-police-station/5765364

Map: Hallam 3803 .. http://maps.google.com/?q=-38.003,145.2586(Hallam%203803)&z=5

Counterterrorism police have alleged two of the five men they arrested in an operation
in Melbourne were planning an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack on an Anzac Day ceremony.

The two men, an 18-year-old Hallam man and an 18-year-old Hampton Park man, were arrested this morning during a major joint counterterrorism team operation.

Another man was arrested for weapons offences and two other men were in custody assisting police with their enquiries, after seven search warrants were executed as part of Operation Rising.

The Australian Federal Police said they believed the two 18-year-olds were plotting an attack to take place on Anzac Day.

AFP Acting Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan said it was believed the attacks were to have involved the use of "edged knives."

"It is alleged both men were undertaking preparations for a terrorist attack at an Anzac Day activity in Melbourne which included targeting police officers," he said.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton described the plot as being inspired by Islamic State (IS).

'At this stage we're comfortable that we have this threat fully contained."
Shane Patton, Victoria Police Deputy Comissioner

"At this stage we have no information that it was a planned beheading. But there was reference to an attack on police," he told a news conference in Melbourne.

"Some evidence that was collected at a couple of the scenes and some other information we have leads us to believe that this particular matter was ISIS-inspired."

Acting Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said this morning's operation involved 200 police officers and was the culmination of Operation Rising.

The ABC understands that a number of the arrested men attended the Al Furqan Islamic study centre in South Springvale and were associates of Abdul Numan
Haider .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-24/police-name-man-shot-dead-outside-melbourne-police-station/5765364 , who also attended the centre.

Haider was shot and killed by counterterrorism police in September last year.

The national terrorism alert level remains high and anyone who sees suspicious activities is advised to call the national security hotline on 1800 123 400.

Deputy Commissioner Patton said members of the community should not feel anxious.

"At this stage we're comfortable that we have this threat fully contained," he said.

"[Members of the public] should feel reassurance as a result of the operations.

"This goes to highlight the significance that we place on community safety and the efforts that we will
go to in putting resources and time commitment into ensuring that the public are safe and free from terrorism.

"We are quite confident that the security we have in place for all activities, not just in the next week, but in the next months,
and into the future, is going to be sufficient to ensure that we have adequate safety for all members of the public."

Resident said raid was a 'shock'

Searches are continuing at several addresses in the south-eastern metropolitan area and investigations are ongoing.

David Johnston lives near one of the houses raided in Hallam and said he was on good terms with the residents.

"It just frightens you because you don't know what's happening," he said.

"It's just a shock. You wouldn't think it would happen in your street."

Federal Government Minister Mathias Cormann has told Sky it was a concerning development.

"It's obviously a matter of concern that we face this kind of threat in our community," he said.

"It's good to know that our counterterrorism agencies are working to keep us safe."

Topics: terrorism, law-crime-and-justice, hallam-3803, hampton-park-3976, narre-warren-3805

First posted about 4 hours ago

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-18/five-arrested-in-melbourne-after-a-joint-terrorism-operation/6402810

See also:

Australian Police Arrest 1 in Counterterrorism Raids
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