Alleged terrorist plot for NY eve thwarted in Vic

POLICE say they have foiled a terrorist plot to shoot revellers celebrating New Year’s Eve at Melbourne’s Federation Square, following the arrest of a “high risk” person in a counter-terrorism operation in the city’s west.

Werribee man Ali Khalif Shire Ali, 20, born in Australia to Somalian parents, was taken into custody by Special Operations Group police just before 3pm on Monday.

“This is a person who expressed an intention to try and kill as many people as he could through shooting them in the Federation Square area on New Year’s Eve,” Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said.

Police alleged Mr Ali, who had been monitored since the start of the year, had tried to obtain an automatic rifle.

Raids were carried out at two homes in Werribee and Meadow Heights, as well as a computer business in Footscray where Mr Ali worked part-time.

Mr Patton said Mr Ali – “one of our high-risk persons of interest” – had accessed a terrorist guide book produced by proscribed terrorist organisation al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The man’s arrest has not been linked to previous operational activity and police do not expect to make further arrests.

Mr Ali faced court yesterday charged with preparing to commit a terrorist attack and collecting documents to facilitate a terrorist act.