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Three men have been charged with acts of terrorism for a "scary" plot inspired by the Islamic State in Melbourne that would aim to kill as many people as possible with the help of less a semi-automatic rifle.
Two brothers, a 30-year-old Dallas man, a 26-year-old Campbellfield man and a 21-year-old man from Greenvale, were arrested Tuesday at a dawn raid in their home, in the northwest of the city, involving more than 200 police officers.
The trio will appear in Melbourne trial court on Tuesday afternoon, each accused of a leading act of planning or planning for terrorist acts.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the trio had been under investigation since March and that it had become "much more energetic" last week for this year. which is to quickly activate the plot.
"We did not have the exact time nor the exact location," Ashton told reporters in Melbourne of the planned attack.
"They were looking for a mass gathering place.
"There was a view of an overcrowded place, a place where a maximum of people would be present, to be able, to kill, supposedly, a maximum of people.
"I believe that over the past few days, attempts have been made to procure a 0.22 coin semi-automatic rifle to help carry out this terrorist event."
Mr. Ashton testified that the accused used encrypted communications and that the police acted when they had gathered enough evidence.
All three are Australians of Turkish origin and their passports were canceled by federal agencies in January, March and October.
Two of the men do not have a criminal history while the third was arrested in 2007 for the minor offense of non-showing L-plates.
Authorities said the men were influenced by ISIS to carry out the plot.
AFP deputy commissioner Ian McCartney said the arrests have been an excellent result.
"If we had not acted early in the prevention of this attack, we would argue that the consequences would have resulted in considerable potential for loss of life," said the Commissioner.
The arrests take place as Melbourne prepares to say goodbye to the victim of the terrorist attack Sisto Malaspina at a funeral held on Tuesday. He was killed and two other men were injured on November 9 when Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, entered the city and launched a knife attack.
The police shot dead Shire Ali, who later died in the hospital.
Police said the three arrested men were involved in "preparations for planning a terrorist act."
They should appear in court on Tuesday.
The properties were raided as part of a joint anti-terrorism operation involving the Australian and Australian Federal Police and ASIO.
A fourth property was raided at Coolaroo.
The operation is ongoing and the Dallas property, with its broken window, remained under heavy police surveillance.
The authorities say that there is no permanent threat.
Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said the plot could have been "potentially lethal" if the police and agencies had not intervened.
"On behalf of all Victorians, I would like to thank all the members involved, as well as several hundred officers who have put themselves at risk to ensure our safety to all.The seriousness of this potential incident should not be under We are very grateful, all of us, as Victorians for the work that has been done. "
