By Lexi Cottee
Greenvale area residents are in shock after the dramatic arrest of a teenager, who police allege was planning a terrorist attack.
Yesterday, a heavy police presence remained in Clare Boulevard outside the 17-year-old’s double-storey home, where he was arrested on Friday afternoon.
Appearing in the children’s court yesterday, the teen was remanded in custody until May26.
His arrest came after a tip-off to the National Security Hotline, which sparked a nine-day investigation leading up to the joint Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police raid at 12.45pm last Friday.
Police converged on the premises and arrested the boy as he was leaving in a car with a woman. He allegedly resisted before being overwhelmed by police.
Using a megaphone, police stood in front of the house and called for any occupants to come outside with their hands in the air. Six women proceeded to file out the front door and were later privately counselled.
Victoria’s Acting Police Commissioner, Tim Cartwright, said the teenager, who had dropped out of school, planned to carry out a terrorist attack “in coming days”.
He said investigators did not know of a specific target, but the boy had taken steps to prepare improvised explosion devices to carry out the attack.
The teenager has been charged with engaging in, preparing for or planning a terrorist act.
Police described his actions as an “imminent threat to the community”, saying they feared a Mother’s Day attack.
Police said the large-scale raid on the boy’s family home found three improvised devises as well as other bomb-making material. A laptop was also among items seized.
Acting Commissioner Cartwright said the teenager was co-operating with police.
“In the past couple of days, we have made, or attempted to make, contact with more
than 35 community groups to provide information about what is happening,” he said.
“Police will also be out and about in their local communities, talking to people and answering questions where we can.”
He urged the community to stay calm and embrace the state’s cultural diversity.
“These are still isolated events carried out by isolated men,” he said.
After the arrest, the focus shifted to the young man’s house, which was searched by officers in hazmat suits. Police continued to search the house during the weekend.
Neighbours say the young man who was arrested was often seeing playing basketball in his backyard.
A young woman, said to be a family friend, claimed the accused recently became obsessed with religion and would not leave the house except to pray or listen to Islamic preachers.
Police have not confirmed a connection between this arrest and terror raids last month, nor the questioning of a 14-year-old boy in Sydney at the weekend.
Victorians are being asked to report suspicious behaviour to the National Security Hotline on 1800 1234 00.
, Greenvale,
Prime Minister Tony Abbott advised Victorians to continue with their daily lives.
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– with The Age
