Police In Australia Say Teenagers Planned Major Terrorist Attack

Police in Australia says teenagers inspired by the Islamic State extremist group planned a major terrorism attack in Melbourne.

Police said five men aged 18 and 19 were detained in the city's southeast early on April 18 in a series of raid.

Police say the suspects were preparing an attack at the ANZAC Day ceremony in Melbourne next week.

ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and commemorates the World War I battle in Turkey on April 25.

Australia's government has raised the country's terror warning level in response to the domestic threat posed by supporters of the Islamic State extremist group.

In September 2014, the group's spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani issued a message urging attacks abroad, specifically mentioning Australia.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters and AFP