A Victorian man has been charged with terrorism offences for allegedly planning to shoot as many people as possible in a New Year's Eve attack at Melbourne's Federation Square which would have had "catastrophic" consequences.
Ali Ali, 20, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he did not apply for bail.
What we know:
- Accused is an Australian-born, 20-year-old man.
- He was charged on Tuesday with planning to commit a terrorist attack and collecting documents to facilitate a terrorist act following his arrest on Monday.
- He allegedly plotted to obtain a firearm to "shoot and kill as many people as he could" at Melbourne's Federation Square on New Year's Eve.
- Police said the attack would have been "catastrophic".
- Lives with his Somalia-born parents at Werribee.
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"The allegations are that he was planning to commit a terrorist act and that he attempted to obtain a gun to do so," Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said.
"What we will be alleging is that he was intending to use a firearm to shoot and kill as many people as he could in the Federation Square area on New Year's Eve."
The man was arrested by at a house at Werribee about 3pm on Monday by Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and ASIO officers.
The practising Muslim was born in Australia, is an Australian citizen and his parents were from Somalia, Mr Patton said.
Following the arrest, federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan said the government does not target a specific ethnic group as part of its terror investigations.
"The Muslim community is not being targeted by the government," he said.
"We'll go after individuals, we don't target a specific community, and we require the Muslim community to work with us."
The alleged terrorist is being interviewed in relation to the offences of preparing to commit a terrorist attack and collecting documents to facilitate a terrorist act.
It's alleged the man accessed a guidebook produced by al-Qaeda containing information on how to commit a terrorist act and use firearms, guns and handguns and rifles.Authorities were keen to stress that no firearm was obtained.
But if the attack had been successful the human cost would have been "catastrophic ... horrendous", Mr Patton said.
The man is also believed to be associated with a group of Victorian extremists.
"We won't identify who they are. It is a very small community of extremists," Mr Patton said.
"There is no ongoing threat posed in respect to New Year's Eve, Christmas or any other area."
So far, 74 people have been charged as a result of 347 counter-terrorist investigations.
The accused is set to reappear via video link on March 13, 2018.
