Five Muslim men aged between 20 and 25 are expected to appear in court today, charged with acts in preparation of a terrorist event. They are believed to have been inspired by the Islamic State, police said. In other words, like the Islamic State, they were inspired by Islam.
A “substantial” number of lives were saved. Baruch HaShem.
Police raids in Melbourne’s northern suburbs foil alleged Christmas Day terror attack TERRORISTS planned a Christmas Day bomb attack targeting Melbourne landmarks including Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, police claim.
Five male suspects aged between 20 and 25 are expected to appear in court today charged with acts in preparation of a terrorist event. They are believed to have been inspired by the Islamic State, police said.
Four are Australian-born with a Lebanese background and one is an Australian citizen born in Egypt.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said there will be an increased police presence on the streets during the Christmas and New Year period.
A major multi-agency operation between Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) foiled the alleged plot.
It was set to include an “explosive event” and could have injured a “substantial” number of people, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said in a press conference this morning.
“We believe that there was an intention to conduct what we call a multimode attack, possibly on Christmas Day,” he said. “The possible locations that we have been working on have been Federation Square, Flinders Street Station and St Paul’s Cathedral.