Alleged Melbourne Terror Teens 'Recruited From The Front Line'

Teens were in 'direct contact' with Australian fighting for IS.

The Melbourne teenagers arrested in early-morning terror raids on the weekend were allegedly recruited by an Australian man fighting with ISIS in Syria.

Dabiq Magazine

Neil Prakash, who fights for Islamic State under the name Abu Khalid al-Kambodi was allegedly in direct contact with the young men before they were arrested, The Australian reports.

The men at the centre of the raids had reportedly become increasingly agitated and had begun to make moves to hide their actions from police after communications with Prakesh.

Earlier this month Prakesh, 23, was featured prominently in ISIS's propaganda magazine, Dabiq. He is considered the most senior Australian fighting with ISIS since his close friend, former Kings Cross bouncer Mohammad Ali Baryalei, died in Syria last year.

The five young men were arrested in raids across Melbourne on Saturday. They were allegedly planning to attack police officers with swords or knives during Anzac centenary commemorations.

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Sevdet Besim, 18, (pictured) has been charged with conspiracy to commit acts done in preparation for, or planning, terrorist acts. Another young man is the first person in the state of Victoria to be held under a Preventative Detention Order, which allows him to be held for up to 14 days without charge.

All of the men arrested in Saturday's raids were associates of Numan Haider.

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Haider, 18, was shot dead by police last year after he attempted to ambush two police officers. Haider pulled a knife on two counter-terrorism officers when they asked to meet him outside the Endeavour Hills police station in September 2014.

Another of the men targeted in the raids says he was bashed by police during the raid.

David Crosling / AAPIMAGE

19-year-old Eathan Cruise told 9News he was "flogged" by police.

"[The police officer] said 'yeah that's the one', he kicks me right across the face as my hands were cuffed," Cruise said.

The alleged beating left a pool of blood in Cruise's family home. Victorian police have said they will investigate the accusation.