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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Melbourne Christmas Day 'terror attack' foiled, say Australia police | Melbourne Christmas Day 'terror attack' foiled, say Australia police |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Australian police say they have foiled a terror attack planned for Melbourne on Christmas Day. | |
| Five men are in custody after early-morning raids on Friday, Victoria Police chief Graham Ashton said. | Five men are in custody after early-morning raids on Friday, Victoria Police chief Graham Ashton said. |
| Mr Ashton said the threat involved "use of explosives" and other weapons including "knives or a firearm". | Mr Ashton said the threat involved "use of explosives" and other weapons including "knives or a firearm". |
| The threat was to prominent city locations including Flinders St Station, Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral, he said. | The threat was to prominent city locations including Flinders St Station, Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral, he said. |
| Mr Ashton said there was no longer a threat to the public. | Mr Ashton said there was no longer a threat to the public. |
| "We don't have any threat over and above that threat that we've currently neutralised," he said at a press conference. | "We don't have any threat over and above that threat that we've currently neutralised," he said at a press conference. |
| 'Self-radicalised' | 'Self-radicalised' |
| Four of the suspects were Australian-born men in their 20s of a Lebanese background, while the fifth was an Australian of Egyptian origin, Mr Ashton said. | Four of the suspects were Australian-born men in their 20s of a Lebanese background, while the fifth was an Australian of Egyptian origin, Mr Ashton said. |
| He claimed they were "self-radicalised" but inspired by propaganda of the so-called Islamic State. | He claimed they were "self-radicalised" but inspired by propaganda of the so-called Islamic State. |
| Another man and a woman were arrested in the raids, but later released without charge. | Another man and a woman were arrested in the raids, but later released without charge. |
| Mr Ashton said the raids on five locations in Melbourne's north and west came after weeks of police surveillance. | Mr Ashton said the raids on five locations in Melbourne's north and west came after weeks of police surveillance. |
| "We believe that there was an intention to conduct what we call a multi-mode attack, possibly on Christmas Day," he said. | "We believe that there was an intention to conduct what we call a multi-mode attack, possibly on Christmas Day," he said. |
| Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said police had disrupted a substantial terror plot. | Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said police had disrupted a substantial terror plot. |
| "They want to frighten Australians, they want to divide Australians, they want us to turn on each other," he said. | "They want to frighten Australians, they want to divide Australians, they want us to turn on each other," he said. |
| "But we will not let them." | "But we will not let them." |
| Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the alleged plans "were not acts of faith". | Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the alleged plans "were not acts of faith". |
| "They were in their planning, acts of evil," he said. | "They were in their planning, acts of evil," he said. |
| Increased security | Increased security |
| Flinders St Station, Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral occupy three corners of what is arguably Melbourne's most iconic intersection. | Flinders St Station, Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral occupy three corners of what is arguably Melbourne's most iconic intersection. |
| The area is only a short distance from the Melbourne Cricket Ground where up to 100,000 people are expected to attend the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan. | The area is only a short distance from the Melbourne Cricket Ground where up to 100,000 people are expected to attend the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan. |
| Mr Ashton said police would increase their presence at the MCG and other locations around Melbourne. | Mr Ashton said police would increase their presence at the MCG and other locations around Melbourne. |
| "I do stress that there's no information at this time suggesting a threat to any of those events," he said. "However, we are taking extra precautions." | "I do stress that there's no information at this time suggesting a threat to any of those events," he said. "However, we are taking extra precautions." |
| The operation included 400 officers from Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was also involved. | The operation included 400 officers from Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was also involved. |
| Mr Andrews assured the public that police would remain vigilant. | Mr Andrews assured the public that police would remain vigilant. |
| "Victorians should go about their business at this very special time of the year," he said. | "Victorians should go about their business at this very special time of the year," he said. |