Police allege the three men had been plotting a terrorist attack in a “crowded place” in Melbourne to kill as many as possible.
Three men arrested over an ISIS-inspired Melbourne terror plot that aimed to kill as many people as possible had tried to source a semi-automatic rifle, police allege.
A 30-year-old man from Dallas, a 26-year-old man from Campbellfield and a 21-year-old man from Greenvale were arrested during early morning raids at their homes in the city’s northwest on Tuesday.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the trio had been under investigation since March and become “energised” in the past week about activating the plot.
“We didn’t have a precise time and a precise location,” Mr Ashton told reporters in Melbourne.
“They were looking at a place of mass gathering.
“There was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able, to kill, we allege, as a maximum amount of people as possible.
“I believe, over more recent days, attempts have been made to source a 0.22 semi-automatic rifle to assist with the carrying out of that terrorism event.
“Fortunately, this is an event we’ve been able to deal with in relation to our counter-terrorism operation and therefore have been in a position to intercept it prior to it being completed.”
All three are Australian nationals of Turkish background and all had their passport cancelled by federal agencies earlier this year, in January, March and October.
Two of the men are related. Two have no criminal history while the third was picked up in 2007 for the minor offence of failing to display and L plates.
Authorities said the men were influenced by ISIS to carry out the alleged plot.
Police will allege the three men arrested were involved in “undertaking preparations for planning a terrorist act”.
They are in custody, are being interviewed and are expected to front court later on Tuesday.
The properties were raided under a joint counter-terrorism operation involving Victorian and Australian Federal Police and ASIO.
A fourth property was raided in Coolaroo.
The operation is ongoing.
“Victoria Police would like to reassure the community that the threat has been contained and there is no on-going threat,” it said in a statement.
“The community should continue to go about their daily business and report any suspicious activity.”
