A police raid understood to be part of a high-level counter-terrorism operation was under way in Melbourne’s north on Friday evening.
Roadblocks were surrounding a house in Greenvale as scores of uniformed and plain-clothed officers took part in a joint operation between Victoria police and the Australian federal police on Friday.
Police several times widened an exclusion zone around the house and told residents within that zone they were to stay inside their homes.
A police robot was sent back into the Clare Boulevard home in suburban Greenvale along with two bomb squad officers carrying equipment, AAP reported on Friday night.
A silver four-wheel-drive parked in the driveway of the home was searched by police, while other officers were inside the house.
A no-fly zone was in place over the house and police moved reporters on for safety reasons.
The police raid, part of an undisclosed continuing operation, began at 1.30pm. Guardian Australia understands the police have targeted a single property.
Witnesses told a Nine Network reporter that police arrived in a heavily armed vehicle, took out a loudspeaker and demanded that any occupants come out.
Soon after, a man emerged and walked into the street with his hands behind his back, the Nine Network reported. A short time later, six women emerged from the house.
Police wearing protective overalls went in and out of the house. The lights were on and all the blinds were drawn.
Victoria police said: “As this relates to an ongoing investigation, it is not appropriate to comment further.”
“It is unlikely that there will be any further updates issued to media this evening,” a later statement added.
The raid also comes after police chiefs overnight enforced new rules for officers, which mandates they cannot work alone, must wear bulletproof vests and must carry weapons during work hours.
Five men were arrested, and three later charged, in joint AFP and Victoria police raids on 18 April, linked to an Islamic State-inspired terrorism plot planned during Anzac Day events in Melbourne.
It is not known whether the latest raids are linked to the same ongoing investigation and the exact location has not been confirmed by police. However, there were reports of a large police presence in the Greenvale and Coolaroo areas.
