Australian police foil imminent terror attack, five arrested

Melbourne: A sinister Islamic State-inspired plan to carry out an attack using “edged knives” at a ceremony here commemorating martyred soldiers was foiled on Saturday with the Australian police arresting five teenagers in connection with the alleged terror plot.

A third man was arrested for weapons offences and two other men were in custody assisting the police with their enquiries, after seven search warrants were executed.

Three of the five men arrested were reportedly injured in the operation. One suffered a head wound and another resisted arrest.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan said it was believed the attacks were to have involved the use of “edged knives”.

Praising police’s swift action, Prime Minister Tony Abbott urged Australians to attend ANZAC Day centenary commemorations and not to be deterred by the terror plot. He asked people not to stay away from ANZAC Day events out of fear.

“The best thing you can do in the face of those who would do us harm is to live your life normally,” Abbott said.

Counter-terrorism investigators raided properties across the city’s southeast today and seized knives and swords, based on information that attacks were imminent, Australia’s news agency reported.

Police confirmed the five men were associates of Abdul Numan Haider, the teenager shot dead by police in Endeavour Hills last year after stabbing two officers.

Some of the men also attended the Al-Furqan Information Centre at Springvale which has been investigated by counter-terrorism officers in the past.

Authorities have refused to give specific details of the alleged planned attacks but say police at ANZAC activities around Melbourne were the immediate target.

“I will say the attacks related to edged weapons,” Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said.

“We believe the attacks could have occurred at any time in the next week,” he said.