Melbourne teen arrested over alleged ‘Mother’s Day massacre’

Melbourn: Police believe they have thwarted a Mother’s Day massacre with the arrest of a 17-year-old boy at his family’s home in Melbourne’s north.It is understood police seized three pipe bombs from the boy’s bedroom.They were taken to a local park and detonated by the Victoria Police Bomb Squad. A computer and other material were also seized.
Police conducted Friday’s raid at the Greenvale family home after learning an attack was allegedly planned for Sunday.
The exact target was unknown, but on Thursday, Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police decided to enter the “arrest phase” because of the “imminent danger” to the public.”This matter has been subject to an intense investigation, especially over the last nine days. On Thursday afternoon an agreement was reached that we would resolve this matter with direct action,” said Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill.Crude pipe bombs are designed to explode in a ball of shrapnel creating maximum damage in crowded areas.”They were very rudimentary but that doesn’t really matter because at the end of the day and explosion is an explosion,” Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Phelan said.Police don’t know if there were three Mother’s Day targets, one selected location, or if some of the bombs were to be used against emergency service responders.Deputy Commissioner Mike Phelan said, “The number one priority is always community safety so if it means we have to act early to save people’s lives that’s indeed what we are going to do.”Authorities said there was no evidence the plan was linked to last month’s alleged Anzac Day terror plot, and declined to comment on whether the teenager acted alone.Police are now investigating friends and associates of the teenager, as it is considered unlikely he was acting alone.
Counter terrorism police around Australia have now adopted a policy of moving quickly rather than waiting to identify all suspects in any potential plot.
In the recent arrest of Melbourne teenagers over a plot to attack police on Anzac Day, raids were brought forward to thwart any possible change of date by the suspects.