By Laura Michell
UPDATE: Three men from Hume have been charged over an alleged terror plot.
The men were arrested after counter terrorism raids in Campbellfield, Greenvale, Dallas and Coolaroo this morning.
A 30-year-old Dallas man, a 26-year-old Campbellfield man, and 21-year-old Greenvale man have been charged with one count of an act in preparation for, or planning of terrorist acts.
Police allege the three men were inspired by ISIS.
Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said the operation that led to the arrests has been running since March.
The operation involved Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other agencies which form part of the Joint Counter Terrorism Team.
The men first came to the attention of police in early 2017.
Mr Ashton said the three men had become “more energised” in the past week.
He said the men had tried to source a .22 semi-automatic rifle.
“Certainly, in our view, while a specific location … was not finalised there was a view towards a crowded place, we allege to kill as maximum an amount of people possible,” Mr Ashton said.
“This group was using encrypted communications to deal with each other that made being precise about when and where difficult.”
Mr Ashton said the men were Australian nationals of Turkish background. They all held Australian passports which were cancelled by federal agencies this year, with the first cancelled in January, another cancelled in March and the third cancelled in October.
Two have no criminal history while the third has one recorded offence from 2007 for failing to display L Plates.
They are expected to be charged and face court today.
An earlier Victoria Police statement said the counter terrorism operation is ongoing but the threat has been “contained” and there is no on-going threat.
