By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
POLICE will be fully armed at Anzac Day services in Dandenong on Saturday in response to an alleged terrorist plot targeting police at services in Melbourne’s south-east.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen said extra police members – both covert and overt – would be part of a ramped-up presence at the dawn service and mid-morning march in Dandenong.
“In years gone by, police haven’t been armed at Anzac Day services,” Insp Kitchen said.
“But we will have all police in uniform with full operational safety equipment on, including arms.
“We’ll have enough police covertly and overtly in place for the community and our police members to be safe.”
The increased security follows the arrest of five men in Hallam, Hampton Park and Narre Warren after British police said they tipped off their Australian counterparts.
Manchester police said they had investigated a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack in Australia.
They said the Melbourne arrests followed once they had discovered a “credible terrorist threat”.
In a press conference on Tuesday Premier Daniel Andrews said the arrested men were already known to the security services.
He confirmed that several Anzac Day services were potentially targeted and that “edged weapons” were involved.
“That related to a specific threat to police members and by extension other members of the general public.”
Media reports this week said that the terrorism plot involved possibly running over a police officer with a car at an Anzac Day service and attacking the officer with an edged weapon.
The method was successfully used to kill an off duty soldier in London in 2013.
It is thought the plan was then to use the officer’s firearm in a shooting rampage.
At the Endeavour Hills service on Wednesday, nine police officers – fully armed and wearing high-visibility vests – flanked the cenotaph.
A semi-trailer carriage was parked, shielding the memorial from traffic on Heatherton Road.
Mr Andrews urged Victorians to show strength and unity, and “shatter all records” at Anzac Day services on Saturday.
“Just as the police did us proud on Saturday morning (during the raids) I know and I am confident that Victoria Police will do everything possible to keep us safe.”
Insp Kitchen said police members would regardless maintain the custom of taking part in the Anzac Day march at Dandenong.
“We don’t plan to allow these people to affect how we celebrate the Diggers in the past.
“It’s business as usual as far as the march goes.”
Insp Kitchen said the Noble Park and Springvale services held last Sunday – the day after the joint state and federal police raids – “went off without a hitch”.
Dandenong RSL president John Wells said the raids “won’t affect what we do at all” at Saturday’s services.
“We’re getting strong co-operation from the police. There will be some extra security precautions on hand. I’m really pleased how thoroughly they’re planning things.”
Following the Operation Rising raids, Harun Causevic of Hampton Park and Sevdet Ramdan Besim of Hallam have been charged with the federal offence of conspiracy to commit acts done in preparation for, or planning, terrorist acts.
Causevic, 18, had been placed in custody without charge for three days under a preventative detention order up until Monday night – the first time such an order has been used in Victoria.
A Narre Warren man, 18, has been released on summons for prohibited weapons charges.
Two other Narre Warren men, aged 18 and 19, have been released from custody.
The joint state and federal police’s counter-terrorism team executed seven search warrants in Narre Warren, Hampton Park, Hallam and Eumemmerring as part of the operation on Saturday morning.
Besim is scheduled to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday and Causevic will appear on 30 April.
