Melbourne terror plot accused attacked Christians in social media rants

RANTING social media posts attacking Christmas celebrations have been published over the past fortnight by those accused of planning to target Melbourne in a terror attack.

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• Andrew Rule: Plot foiled as threat lurks

RANTING social media posts attacking Christmas celebrations have been published over the past fortnight by those accused of planning to target Melbourne’s biggest landmarks in a terror attack.

Detectives have been secretly watching the men, including some who were known to police for other crimes, and monitoring conversations for weeks after they allegedly began displaying signs of “radicalised” behaviour.

“They have been people we have been concerned about,” Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said.

“But over the past fortnight that has accelerated to where we’ve had to conduct a criminal investigation relating to the formation of what we believe is a terrorist plot.”

Ranting social media posts attacking Christmas celebrations have been published over the past fortnight by those accused of planning to target Melbourne’s biggest landmarks. Source: iStock/Getty

Social media posts of the accused point to strict religious views.

A video posted to one of the accused’s Facebook and YouTube accounts a fortnight ago states that Christmas has become materialistic, with Christians looking to get drunk, party and waste money.

“Now where is Jesus? You get drunk, you fight, you lose all your money, the stores raise their prices,” the narrator says in the video.

Santa Claus is based on a figure who was “an evil demon of the north” and gets credit for delivering gifts.

“What are you teaching the children?” the video asks. “The poor father who sweat and toiled all year to get you the presents gets no credit for the presents given to the child.”

Another Facebook post reads: “Too many heroes, not enough death beds.”

About 400 heavily armed police stormed homes across Dallas, Meadow Heights, Campbellfield, Flemington and Gladstone Park on Thursday night as the major counter-terrorism operation went into an “overt” action phase.

Women wearing niqabs are seen alongside police as they attend the scene where a house was raided in Meadow Heights. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

The brother of one man who was arrested and later released described how 30 armed police officers stormed his house in Gladstone Park, looking for his brother, Zak Dabboussi, 21.

“They literally turned the house upside down,” Ahmed Dabboussi said.

“They were shouting, ‘on the floor, on the floor’.”

But police allege the group of young men of Lebanese and Egyptian background had discussed plans to devastate the city using explosives and other weapons.

It is alleged bombs would have exploded at landmark city sites in a terror attack designed to kill innocent families and inflict horror in Melbourne on Christmas Day.

Attacks with knives and guns were also allegedly planned by radicalised young Muslim men inspired by IS, in the biggest terror plot foiled in Australia in recent years.

Churchgoers celebrating Christmas at St Paul’s Cathedral were believed to be among the targets.

St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne. Picture: AFP/William West

Flinders St station and Federation Square were also on the possible hit list, according to intelligence gathered by ASIO spies and counter-terrorism police.

It’s believed the suspects were willing to kill themselves in the process.

It will be alleged the suspects were seen on a “reconnaissance mission” scoping out their targets.

The suspects were all Australian citizens living and working in suburban Melbourne — men who allegedly bonded over radical religious views. Four of Lebanese background were born in Australia, while one man was Egyptian-born but had successfully applied for citizenship.

There was no evidence they had been funded by overseas groups, Mr Ashton said, but police believed the men had been motivated by IS.

The men were “self-radicalised, but certainly inspired by IS propaganda”, he said. “This is a clear example of where we don’t cower before terrorism.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said terrorists sought to kill and to frighten Australians into abandoning their way of life.

“This is one of the most substantial terrorist plots that has been disrupted over the last several years,” Mr Turnbull said.

The news would be “of great concern to all Australians” during a time of peace and love.

“But we must not be cowed by the terrorists,” Mr Turnbull said.

Ingredients for a homemade bomb were allegedly among the items seized in the dramatic police raids.

There were fears the suspects planned to copy recent overseas attacks.

Police were initially looking into whether there were plans to use a truck to drive into Federation Square, similar to an attack in Germany this week when a suspect drove into a Berlin Christmas market.

The exact method of detonation was being kept under wraps but police feared the suspects favoured tactics that would cause “substantial” injuries and deaths.

Mr Ashton said evidence suggested it would be a “multi-mode attack”.

He said there was no allegation of a plan by accused plotters to attack police responding to the incident.

Police had been “conscious” of recent modes used overseas, Mr Ashton said.

“The actual means around which that explosive was going to be delivered is still being investigated.

“(There was) certainly potential for quite a number of people to be injured or killed.”

Evidence compiled during the investigation included a “stated intention” to commit acts of terror, police claim.

Mr Ashton said police had seized evidence including the makings of an explosive device.

“We believe certainly it was going to involve an explosive event,” Mr Ashton said. “And we have gathered evidence to support that.

“There has also been some evidence that will lead around the possibility of an intention to use other weapons — knives and or a firearm.

“There’s certainly some stated intention around that.”

He said there was no intelligence to suggest there were other attacks planned.

FAMILIES WON’T BE BOWED BY MENACE

MELBURNIANS are refusing to let terrorism fears dampen their festive spirit.

The masses continued to soak up the warm weather in the heart of the city last night, despite a visible police presence — which included the public order response unit — at Federation Square, Flinders St station and St Paul’s Cathedral.

The landmarks were the subjects of an alleged terrorist plot in the Christmas-New Year period.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said he believed Victorians were safe and a “substantial police presence” would be dispatched around the precinct.

Morgan, of Templestowe, said we shouldn’t be “paralysed” by the actions of a few.

“We should continue to celebrate during this festive time of year, like Christmas and New Year’s Eve,” she said.

Tyan, Lucia and Lucy. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Tyan, from Southbank, refused to live in fear and be scared of a potential attack.

“Everyone would be living inside their home 24 hours a day if we feared what could happen,” she said.

“You just need to live your life and not let anyone stand in your way.”

Anthony, from Thornbury, said his family’s annual trip into the city to visit the Myer Christmas Windows wouldn’t change.

“We come into the city every year as a family and that won’t change now. It’s an opportunity for us to spend quality time together,” he said.

Scarlett, 6, Anthony, 39, Harvey, 3, Michael, 40, Zoey, 6, Belinda, 37, Emily, and Cadel, 3. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Pascoe Vale mother of two Belinda said it wouldn’t affect her family’s tradition either.

“We come into the city every year,” she said

“You can’t stop living in the event something might happen.

“Make sure you stay alert and enjoy your time with family and friends.”