Teen faces terror charge over Melbourne bushfire and assault

A Melbourne teenager is expected to be charged with a terrorism offence after allegedly lighting a fire in bushland and assaulting a person, with police linking the acts to extremist Islam.

A 19-year-old Epping man, centre, who allegedly attempted to engage in a terrorist act. Picture: Victoria Police

A Melbourne teenager is expected to be charged with a terrorism offence after allegedly lighting a fire in bushland and assaulting a person, with police linking the acts to extremist Islam.

Three people — the youngest just 16 — were arrested in Melbourne’s northern suburbs by the Australian Joint Counter Terrorism Team on Wednesday.

A 19-year-old man from Epping was being interviewed by police in relation to suspected terrorism offences and was expected to be charged with attempting to engage in a terrorist act.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Hermans, from Counter Terrorism Command, said the investigation was sparked by two incidents, a fire in bushland 30 minutes from Epping on February 18 and an assault on March 10.

A 20-year-old man from Epping is also in custody and a 16-year-old from Pascoe Vale were released earlier on Wednesday pending further inquiries.

Assistant Commissioner Hermans said police would continue to engage with the 16-year-old and offer him support to “hopefully divert him away the activity that saw him come to our attention”.

He said the arrests were linked to extremist Islamic ideology but stressed police “target the crime not the ideology”.

He said the two incidents were being investigated when police received intelligence that a person of interest was involved and the case was passed to the terrorism team.

Assistant Commissioner Hermans said the 19-year-old was likely to face a charge of attempting terrorism or acts in preparation for an act of terrorism. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said police now regularly saw a phenomenon of young people becoming involved in extremism regardless of religion.

He said the magnification of the online environment couldn’t be under-estimated and the isolation during COVID-19 had driven people online and exacerbated some of the radicalisation seen in Australia and globally.

He said the community could be reassured that action had been taken early in relation to the men arrested and there was no further risk.

Victoria Police said the operation would continue but further arrests were not expected.

“Furthermore, the arrests are not linked to any previous operational activity,” the statement said.

The Joint Counter Terrorism Team includes Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Police ask anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community to come forward.

Suspicious activity can be reported to triple-0 (000), Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the National Security Hotline on 1800 1234 00.