Police foil Australia New Year's Eve 'terror plot'

MELBOURNE (AFP) – An Islamic State sympathizer planned to buy a gun and kill as many revelers as possible on New Year's Eve in Melbourne's popular Federation Square, police alleged Tuesday after foiling the plot.

The 20-year-old, born in Australia to Somali parents, was detained in a raid on a house in the Melbourne suburb of Werribee on Monday. He is expected to be charged over the coming days.

Police claim he accessed a guide book online produced by Al-Qaeda on how to commit terror acts and use firearms, but was arrested before he could purchase an automatic rifle.

''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,'' said Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton.

''It is a tremendous concern to us that (during) the festive season, when people are out enjoying themselves, that there is a potential plot to commit a terrorist act. That is a huge issue for us but that is why we put the resources in.''

He said the arrest meant the threat ''has been removed.''

Federation Square is in the heart of the city, opposite busy Flinders Street train station and St Paul's Cathedral. It is one of the most popular places to see in the New Year and would be packed on December 31.

The foiled plot comes a year after police prevented another attack in the same area on Christmas Day, arresting several men who planned to use explosives, knives and guns to target the location.

Patton said the man, who lived with his parents, had been on their radar since the beginning of the year, part of a small community of extremists that police have been monitoring.

His behavior had gradually escalated over time, but police believe he was acting alone.

''The potential of the attack was catastrophic,'' said Patton, adding that the man was an ''Islamic State sympathizer.''

The man worked part-time at a computer repair business, with police raiding the facility.