Man arrested over alleged Melbourne New Year’s Eve terror plot plans, by Aneeka Simonis.

POLICE say they have foiled a frightening terrorist plot to shoot revellers celebrating New Year’s Eve at Melbourne’s Federation Square, with a ‘high risk’ person they had been watching for some time arrested in a counter-terrorism operation in the city’s west.

The 20-year-old Werribee man – born in Australia to Somalian parents – was taken into custody by Special Operations Group police just before 3pm in Werribee yesterday.

It is alleged he planned to shoot “as many people as he could” in the attack, police say. …

The man, who grew up in Victoria, worked at a computer business. Police say his extremist behaviour had gradually escalated over time.

Werribee man arrested over alleged Melbourne New Year’s Eve terrorism plot, by the ABC.

Police said they moved in because the man had been having face-to-face meetings about getting a gun. The man, who police said was connected to other extremists, did not manage to obtain one, Deputy Commissioner Patton said. …

The man is described as a Muslim, who is an Australian citizen with Somalian parents.

hat-tip Scott of the Pacific