Victoria Police Charge 3 Men Over 'Terrorist Act'

Victoria Police announced on Sunday, August 20, that they had charged three men with “engaging in a terrorist act” over an arson attack on the Imam Ali Islamic Centre in December 2016.

This video shows one of the trio being escorted from the Melbourne branch of the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

According to the AFP, two of the men charged were already in custody. They are also held responsbile for a previous fire at the same centre in November 2016.

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Ian McCartney said the investigation focused on what he called “Islamic State inspired” attacks to instill fear into parts of a certain community. Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther of Victoria Police said the centre at the heart of the attacks was a Shia centre and police believe those who committed the attacks adhere to an extremist Sunni ideology, SBS reported. Credit: Victoria Police via Storyful