Key state on high alert as terror threat raised to ‘likely’

The terror threat has been raised to ‘likely’ in Victoria as hundreds of protesters are expected to gather at a major defence exhibition.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters and members of the activist group Extinction Rebellion are expected outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to protest against the 2024 Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition.

The event will take place from 11 to 13 September and will bring together almost 1,000 exhibitions from 31 countries.

However, activist group Disrupt Land Forces claims the event “enables murder.”

“We unequivocally oppose the glorification of death, destruction and genocide carried out with weapons developed on this continent and displayed by Land Forces,” Disrupt Land Forces said in an open letter.

‘From Palestine to West Papua, these companies facilitate murder, displacement, desecration and colonization in the name of Western imperialist interests.’

The group calls for an “end to all arms exports to states guilty of genocide and militarized repression.”

Victoria Police have been granted ‘special powers’ under the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act in the area around the exhibition centre until 11.59pm on September 15.

The terror threat has been raised to ‘likely’ in Victoria as hundreds of protesters are expected to gather at a major defence exhibition (pictured officers at a protest)

Under the powers, it is a criminal offence to obstruct a search of a home or to fail to comply with an order to remove a face covering.

A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday there would be a “significant presence” at the Land Forces event in September.

“This is expected to be our largest operation since the World Economic Forum in 2000,” the spokesman said.

‘There will be a number of police officers present at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to ensure the highest level of safety and security during the event.

This includes hundreds of regional police officers who will travel to Melbourne for the event, alongside general metro police and specialist police including the Public Order Response Team, Highway Patrol and the Mounted Branch.

The spokesman said the national threat level for terrorism has been raised to “probable” and that police “have sufficient resources at their disposal to respond quickly to any incidents”.

“Victoria Police will also locate its State Police Operations Centre at Victoria Police Centre,” the spokesperson said.

‘While Victoria Police acknowledges the national threat level for terrorism has been raised to ‘likely’, there is no indication that this event was targeted by a specific threat.’

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters and members of activist group Extinction Rebellion (pictured) are expected outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to protest the 2024 Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition

Two people were arrested during last weekend’s protests, while two officers were reportedly assaulted when they tried to intervene after a man was allegedly assaulted and his property on Bourke St damaged.

They have both been released and are expected to be charged with assault and resisting police.

The initial skirmish is still under investigation.