Melbourne 'terror plot': Three held over 'chilling' gun plan, police say Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Police said the men had planned to target a crowded area in Melbourne Australian police say they have arrested three men who were plotting to commit a terror attack in Melbourne.
The group had been attempting to source a semi-automatic rifle to kill as many people as possible in a crowded place, authorities said.
The suspects - aged 21, 26 and 30 - were allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group.
There was no ongoing threat to the public, said Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton.
Mr Ashton said the men had not settled on a location for the alleged attack, but their planning had "escalated" in recent days.
"There was a view towards a crowded place, a place where maximum people would be attending, to be able to kill, we allege, as maximum an amount of people as possible," he told reporters on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, a knife-wielding attacker killed..