A young Melbourne man is accused of plotting a religiously motivated act of terrorism.
The 19-year-old Epping man was among three people arrested as part of a joint-counter terrorism operation in Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
A 20-year-old man, also from Epping, and 16-year-old Glenroy boy were also arrested in the raids.
Police allege the 19-year-old attempted to engage in terrorism and or was preparing a terrorist act, both of which carry a potential sentence of life in prison.
Charges are yet to be laid, with police still interviewing him along with the 20-year-old.
The teenage boy has been released pending further inquires.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Hermans said the alleged act was linked to extremist ideology.
"It is Islamic," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"But let me make it very clear that we target the crime, not the ideology
"It makes no difference to us."
The trio came to the attention of police over a fire in bushland about 30 minutes from Epping on February 18 and an assault in a public place in metropolitan Melbourne on March 10.
Mr Hermans said the investigation was handed over to the joint counter-terrorism team after information about the motivation for the incidents came to light.
"We received information that suggested that their ideology would be a concern to the Victorian community," he said.
"As a result of that, we conducted an investigation against one POI (person of interest), which led us to the three POIs that were arrested today."
Mr Hermans said two of the males were related while the other was connected through the course of the Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation investigation.
