Two men arrested in counter-terrorism raids were planning an "ISIS-inspired" attack at an Anzac Day event, police say.
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Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police executed seven search warrants on properties in Narre Warren, Hampton Park, Hallam and Eumemmerring from 4am on Saturday. Five men were arrested in the raids.
Two 18-year-olds, from Hallam and Hampton Park, were arrested on terrorism-related offences.
Investigators allege the pair was planning a terrorist attack in Australia which would target police officers, Victoria Police said in a statement.
"We have acted swiftly to disrupt an attack intended to bring harm to everyday Victorians going about their business," Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said.
"During Anzac Day commemorations, we encourage people to continue with their plan, but remain vigilant.
"The plan related to activities that were in the Melbourne area and we are not going to go into specifics at this stage."
Police said the men's plans were "ISIS inspired" but there was no specific suspicion that they planned to carry out beheadings.
The weapons confiscated were all edged weapons, suggesting knives or swords, and not firearms.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the men who were arrested were "associates" but not relatives of Numan Haider, who was shot and killed by police in September 2014 after stabbing anti-terrorism officers at Endeavour Hills.
The men had frequented the al-Furqan bookshop and Islamic centre in Springvale South, which was also linked to Haider.
Police arrested five men in the raids. Another 18-year-old man, from Narre Warren, was arrested over weapons offences. Two other men, aged 18 and 19, both from Narre Warren, were also arrested and are in custody assisting police.
Police continue to search several properties in the area.
Four AFP officers are currently standing guard at a small tile-roofed house on a quiet suburban street in Hallam.
The house is nondescript except for the front window which has had a hole smashed in it.
It's not clear whether the damage was caused during this morning's raids.
All the blinds on the property have been pulled shut.
Four cars, including a silver BMW, are currently parked in the house's driveway.