The detonations were conducted by specialist officers from the Victoria Police Bomb Response Unit. (AAP)
Police have detonated improvised explosive devices in controlled demolitions in suburban Melbourne after anti-terror raids.
Victoria Police conducted the detonations at a reserve in Greenvale. The first one occurred around 8.30pm last night (AEST), with another explosion heard an hour later.
The devices were allegedly found during the raids at a home on Clare Blvd in Greenvale where officers from a joint police operation arrested a man and detained six women.
The Herald Sun reports the arrested man is the 17-year-old son of a doctor, while a 14-year-old boy was arrested in Sydney in relation to the matter.
Another 17-year-old is also believed to be in police custody.
The newspaper says it is believed the arrests are over an alleged plot to blow up the devices during an attack in Melbourne this Sunday, which is Mother’s Day.
Earlier police established a 300 metre exclusion zone and instructed people to stay within their homes during the detonations.
The detonations were conducted by specialist officers from the Victoria Police Bomb Response Unit. Officers urged people to avoid the area.
Victoria Police’s special operations group and their AFP counterparts had descended on Clare Blvd in Greenvale earlier that day at 12.30pm.
Heavily armed police approached a cream-coloured house with a loudspeaker and asked for the occupants to come out.
Witnesses said the occupants emerged from the home dressed in traditional Islamic attire.
A man was the first to emerge, with his hands behind his head. He was placed on the ground before being taken to be secured in nearby parkland.
Next, six women emerged and were taken in the opposite direction.
A bomb robot was called in to examine a car parked outside the house.
Authorities conducted a thorough search of the house.
Neighbours were in shock as streets were shut down with a heavy police presence.
Witness Katie Galea told 9NEWS the raid had hit “a bit close to home”.
“They had two robots. Police were asking if there was anyone else in the house to come out with their hands up,” she said.
“I find it a bit scary… it’s hit a bit close to home today.”
Scores of uniformed and plain-clothed police were in the street, with tactical vehicles.
There have also been reports of a police presence in Coolaroo.
A no-fly zone was also established over the suburbs being raided.
Police were tight-lipped as to whether the raids were terror-related.
It is not known whether the latest raids are linked to the same ongoing investigation to an Islamic State-inspired terror plot planned during Anzac Day events in Melbourne.
That operation saw 200 heavily armed police raid properties in the south-east of Melbourne on April 18.
source:9news.com.au
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