Last night, police arrested seven people in the Melbourne suburbs of Flemington, Meadow Heights and Dallas in connection with a terror plot to detonate improvised explosive devices in varied locations in Central Melbourne.
Police are saying the planned attacks were inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group.
According to the [ABC](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-23/police-foil-alleged-christmas-day-‘terrorist-plot’-in-melbourne/8143762 target=”_blank”), Victoria police commissioner Graham Ashton has said that police seized “the makings of an improvised explosive device”.
Last night, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed the arrests, stating that while seven people were arrested, five are still in custody.
“Overnight, the Victoria Police, working with the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, have arrested seven persons, five of whom are still in custody, searched five premises and are continuing to search them,” he said.
“What they have uncovered is a plot to explode improvised explosive devices in central Melbourne in the area of Federation Square, on or about Christmas Day.”
“This is one of the most substantial terrorist plots that have been disrupted over the last several years.”
Police commissioner Ashton says that officers have been investigating the now-foiled terror plot for a fortnight.
“We believe [the plot] was going to involve an explosive event, the use of explosives, and we gathered evidence to support that,’ he said.
“There has also been evidence that we will lead around the possibility of an intention to use other weapons. That could include knives and/or a firearm.”
More to come…
