Australians Held On Suspicion Of Anzac Day Terror Attack

Australian police arrested five men in counter-terrorism raids in the state of Victoria on Saturday morning, two in relation to an alleged planned attack at a ceremony commemorating a World War I battle in Turkey.



The Sydney Morning Herald reported that an 18-year-old man had been charged with "conspiring to plan a terrorist attack" following multiple raids across Melbourne.



Police said the two men were planning a Daesh-inspired attack at a Melbourne ANZAC Day event.



ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, many of whom fought in the 1915 Battle of Canakkale - known as Gallipoli in Australia. The ANZAC legend is central to the Australian identity.



Police said a third man was arrested on weapons offences, and two others were in custody assisting police.



All of the men are understood to be teenagers.



Victoria police acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said that two of the men were "associates" of 18-year-old Abdul Numan Haider.



Haider, who arrived in Australia from Afghanistan around 10 years ago, was shot and killed by police Sept. 23 last year after stabbing anti-terrorism officers outside a Melbourne police station.



Patton added that the "planned attack" could have come "any time in the next week."



A series of events are planned across Australia next week to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the landings at Canakkale.



The Herald reported Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews as saying that security would be boosted at an April 25 dawn service and march, while Prime Minister Tony Abbott urged those thinking of attending Anzac Day events not to be deterred.



Police have said the men's plans were "ISIS inspired" - a reference to Daesh.



Acting Victoria Police Commissioner Tim Cartwright said the weapons confiscated were all edged weapons, not firearms.



"There was a knife and there was a sword. There was suggestion of firearms but we have not seized any," Cartwright said.



Officials had referred to possible attacks using "edged weapons", but Acting deputy police commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters that there was no evidence to suggest "a planned beheading".



The Herald reported that the men had frequented al-Furqan bookshop and Islamic center in Melbourne, which was also linked to Haider.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara