Australian police on Saturday said it had foiled a terror strike planned for Mother’s Day on Sunday and arrested a 17-year-old for plotting multiple bomb attacks in the heart of Melbourne.
Police said they seized three pipe bombs from the boy’s bedroom during a raid at the Greenvale family home after learning an attack was allegedly planned for Sunday.
They bombs were taken to a nearby park and detonated by the Victoria Police Bomb Squad, according to media reports. Police said that the teenager was charged with engaging in an act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act. “It will be alleged the teenager was undertaking preparations for planning a terrorist act in Australia.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the government knows there is a very serious threat. “There have been some raids over the last 24 hours in Sydney and Melbourne. There’s been at least one arrest,” he said.