Australian police have arrested a man in connection with suspected terrorism offenses during raids in which they seized firearms, computer equipment and a USB stick containing what they said were “violent extremist materials.”
The Australian Federal Police and Victoria state police said Thursday that the 23-year-old man was taken into custody on Wednesday following the raids in Melbourne. He was expected to be charged Thursday with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner for Crime Steve Fontana says there is no immediate threat to the public’s safety. The raids were part of an ongoing investigation into home-grown terror threats.
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Police did not release the name of the man arrested. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.