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Melbourne Christmas Day 'terror attack' foiled, say Australia police Melbourne Christmas Day 'terror attack' foiled, say Australia police
(about 9 hours later)
Australian police say they have foiled a terror attack planned for Melbourne on Christmas Day. Australian police have foiled a major terror attack in Melbourne on Christmas Day, officials say.
Five men are in custody after early-morning raids on Friday, Victoria Police chief Graham Ashton said. Three men detained in early morning raids on Friday are facing terror charges. Three other people were held but later released.
Mr Ashton said the threat involved "use of explosives" and other weapons including "knives or a firearm". The plot involved the use of explosives and other weapons, police say.
The threat was to prominent city locations including Flinders St Station, Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral, he said. The alleged targets included high-profile locations around Melbourne, such as St Paul's Cathedral, Federation Square and the main train station.
Mr Ashton said there was no longer a threat to the public. Six men and a woman were detained in Friday's raid on suspicion of "preparing or planning a terrorist attack", police say.
"We don't have any threat over and above that threat that we've currently neutralised," he said at a press conference. The woman and two men were later released.
Three other men, named as Hamza Abbas, 21, Ahmed Mohamed, 24, and Abdullah Chaarani, 26, did not enter pleas and are due to appear in court in April. Another man remains in custody.
Victoria State police chief Graham Ashton said that following Friday's arrests, there was no longer a threat to the public.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the plot was one of the most substantial that has been disrupted in recent years.
"They want to frighten Australians, they want to divide Australians, they want us to turn on each other, but we will not let them," he said.
'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 initial suspects were Australian-born and of a Lebanese origin, while the fifth was an Australian of Egyptian origin, Mr Ashton told reporters.
He claimed they were "self-radicalised" but inspired by propaganda of the so-called Islamic State. Those being held had been "self-radicalised" but inspired by propaganda of the so-called Islamic State (IS), he said.
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. Melbourne's Flinders St Station, Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral occupy three corners of what is arguably the city's most iconic intersection.
"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."
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the alleged plans "were not acts of faith".
"They were in their planning, acts of evil," he said.
Increased security
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.
"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.
"Victorians should go about their business at this very special time of the year," he said.