Four Muslim men have been arrested during a series of raids by armed police for allegedly possessing and distributing ISIS propaganda in Melbourne.
One man, who lives in Roxburgh Park and is now 20, was stopped by Australian Border Force officers after arriving from Turkey on November 29, 2024, and another, now 21, was intercepted while trying to leave for Turkey on June 1 last year.
The Australian Federal Police said suspicious content was found on both of their phones, and will allege a forensic analysis revealed they were sending, sharing and receiving suspected “violent extremist material”, including images and videos of terrorist attacks and other ISIS propaganda.
AFP officers from a National Security Investigations (NSI) team then raided four homes in Roxburgh Park, Clyde South and Meadow Heights on Thursday, seized more devices, and arrested the 20 and 21-year-olds, and two men from Clyde North aged 19 and 29.
A police firearm was accidentally discharged at one of the Roxburgh Park properties, but no one was injured, police said.
Four Muslim men have been arrested in a series of raids carried out in suburban Melbourne and charged with allegedly possessing and sharing ISIS propaganda.
Follow: @NoticerNews pic.twitter.com/zVx31WMjS3
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) May 8, 2026
More of the arrests: pic.twitter.com/6ofhXaFVbG
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) May 8, 2026
All four men were charged with possession of violent extremist material, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, and appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Three were refused bail to reappear in court on Friday, and the other was granted strict conditional bail to face court again on July 30.
A fifth man, 21, was arrested in Meadow Heights but released pending further enquiries.
“We allege these men were actively engaging in the sharing of this material inspired by ISIS, a terrorist organisation responsible for mass killings, and violent religious persecution,” AFP Counter Terrorism Commander Paula Hudson said.
Header image: Left, right, two of the men being arrested (Australian Border Force).
