Terrorism · Melbourne, VIC
Counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne over alleged Anzac Day plot
Five men were arrested in south-east Melbourne. Police alleged two 18-year-olds were preparing an attack on an Anzac Day event.
First published 18 April 2015 · ABC News
On the morning of Saturday 18 April 2015, a joint counter-terrorism team executed seven search warrants in Melbourne's south-east and arrested five men.
Police alleged that two 18-year-olds had been preparing an Islamic State-inspired attack on an Anzac Day event in Melbourne, including the targeting of police officers. Sevdet Besim, 18, of Hallam, was charged with conspiring to commit a terrorist act and remanded in custody.
A second man was later charged with weapons offences, another was held under a preventative detention order (the first such order used in Victoria), and two were released without charge. Security was significantly increased for Anzac Day services across Victoria.
What happened next
In 2015 the charges were untested allegations. Sevdet Besim later pleaded guilty to preparing for a terrorist act. In 2017 the Victorian Court of Appeal increased his sentence to 14 years.
Sources
- Men arrested in Melbourne over alleged ISIS-inspired Anzac Day terrorist plot — ABC News, 18 April 2015
- Unprecedented levels of security for Melbourne dawn service — ABC News, 20 April 2015
Dates
- Event
- 18 April 2015
- First published (2015)
- 18 April 2015, ABC News
- Added to this archive
- 20 October 2026
- Last updated
- 20 October 2026
Retrospective summary, added to this archive on 20 October 2026. It was written later from the contemporary reports listed above.