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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) | |
| One man has been arrested after Victorian and federal police carried out a series of raids at a number of properties in Melbourne. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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,” an AFP spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday morning. |
| The police were expected to give more details at a press conference at 11.30am on Tuesday morning. | The police were expected to give more details at a press conference at 11.30am on Tuesday morning. |
| In Seabrook, a neighbour of the arrested man said he was in his mid-20s and worked in his father’s pizza shop. | |
| “He was very friendly. He moved in to the house in December with his wife after getting married,” said Herve Du Euisson-Berrine. | |
| “I was woken by the sound of police helicopters this morning – it’s usually a very quiet area.” | “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. | 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”. | 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 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. | 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.” | “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. |