Christians Under Attack

Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Frank Prendergast said last night's arrests had disrupted a significant threat to the community and more arrests were possible as analysis of material seized from alleged terror groups continued.

A 21-year-old Coburg man, a 25-year-old from Brunswick and a 26-year-old from Hadfield arrested last night are believed to be part of an unnamed group with links to terrorist organisations overseas.

The men face a maximum of 25 years jail on charges of being members of and intentionally funding a terrorist group.

The two older men face additional charges of supporting a terrorist organisation.

 

The charges relate to the same set of circumstances that led to 19 arrests in Sydney and Melbourne last November stemming from the two-year-old Operation Pendennis, an ongoing joint operation between AFP, ASIO, the Victoria Police and the New South Wales Police.

The three men from Melbourne's northern suburbs were identified as "persons of interest" four months ago but were not arrested until officers received the go-ahead from the Department of Public Prosecutions.

They are believed to belong to the same prayer group as the 10 Victorians arrested last November and to have received spiritual guidance from Melbourne Muslim cleric Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 45, also known as Abu Bakr.

Abu Bakr was among those arrested last November.

"(Last night's) arrests have seriously disrupted the activities of a group allegedly making arrangements to carry out a terrorist attack in Australia," Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said today.

Commissioner Nixon said the alleged terror cell members had made no specific threats or identified targets and had not posed a threat to the community or athletes during the recent Commonwealth Games.

"It's been an active investigation and we're confident the measures were in place to ensure the community's safety was guaranteed," she said.

AFP and the Victorian police refused to name the three arrested yesterday but said one was a brother and cousin of two men charged last November.

Two of the men were charged with affray after attacking media outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court when their co-accused appeared last year.

More arrests were possible as police continue to analyse information gathered from alleged terror cells, Assistant Commissioner Prendergast said today.

"This arrest has been part of a very lengthy and complex investigation ... and the analysis of material collected has been ongoing," he said.

Lawyers for the accused Rob Stary said that as the three men had been identified previously by police the timing of their arrest was curious.

"This is an operation that's been going on now for nearly two years.... It's curious the timing of their arrest," he said on ABC Radio.

By Jane Williams