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AFP and Victoria police in counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne suburbs AFP and Victoria police in counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne suburbs
(about 1 hour later)
Joint Victoria police and Australian federal police raids are under way at a number of properties in Melbourne. Victoria police and Australian federal police have carried out a series of raids at a number of properties in Melbourne.
Search warrants are being executed as part of a joint operation in the Melbourne suburbs of Flemington, Meadow Heights and Seabrook, a Victoria police spokesman said. Search warrants were executed as part of a joint operation in the Melbourne suburbs of Flemington, Meadow Heights, Kealba, Broadmeadows and Seabrook, a Victoria police spokesman said. One man was arrested at a property in Seabrook.
“The Australian Federal Police and Victoria police joint counter -terrorism team can confirm that a number of search warrants are being conducted as part of an operation in the following suburbs - Seabrook, Kealba, Meadow Heights, Broadmeadows and Flemington,” an AFP spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday morning. “This operational activity is not in response to a threat to public safety nor is it related to last week’s incident at Endeavour Hills,” an AFP spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
“This operational activity is not in response to a threat to public safety nor is it related to last week’s incident at Endeavour Hills. The police were expected to give more details at a press conference at 11.30am on Tuesday morning.
“While this activity is continuing no further comment will be made.” In Seabrook, a neighbour of the arrested man said he was “very friendly”.
At least one man has been taken away by police at Seabrook. “He moved in to the house in December with his wife after getting married,” said Herve Du Euisson-Berrine,.
The AFP said the raids are “not in response to a threat to public safety” and unrelated to last week’s incident at Endeavour Hills, in which 18-year-old Abdul Numan Haider was shot and killed after stabbing two police officers. “I was woken by the sound of police helicopters this morning – it’s usually a very quiet area.”
Last week’s incident at Endeavour Hills, in which 18-year-old Abdul Numan Haider was shot and killed after stabbing two police officers, has heightened tensions in the city.
Victoria premier Denis Napthine said that he was briefed on the raids as they began and was told they were part of a “long-running, on-going operation. They are not about a specific threat. There is no immediate concern for public safety”.
He told 3AW radio that he was “very concerned” about reports of anti-Islamic abuse, urging people to “more tolerant and more inclusive”.
He rejected calls from some federal politicians to ban the burqa, a full body covering worn by some Islamic women.
“What people wear, what faith they practice, what football team they follow, they are all decisions for individuals.”
More than 800 officers were involved in Australia’s largest counter-terror operation on 18 September at homes in Sydney and Melbourne, which saw one man, 22-year-old Omarjan Azari, charged with preparing to commit a terror attack.More than 800 officers were involved in Australia’s largest counter-terror operation on 18 September at homes in Sydney and Melbourne, which saw one man, 22-year-old Omarjan Azari, charged with preparing to commit a terror attack.