A SUICIDE bombing was allegedly part of the terror plot aimed at Melbourne’s CBD landmarks, the Herald Sun can reveal.

Guns and knives were also expected to be used in the attack, which had allegedly been planned for Christmas Day.

Three men have appeared in court after police foiled the alleged plot to attack Federation Square, St Paul’s Cathedral and Flinders St Station.

A fourth man, a 22-year-old from Broadmeadows, was tonight charged with committing acts in preparation or planning for a terrorist act.

He was remanded to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.

Abdullah Chaarani faced a brief proceeding before magistrate Kay Robertson.

Chaarani, dressed in a black Adidas T-shirt and grey Everlast tracksuit pants, casually stretched his neck and nodded to two completely veiled women sitting in the public gallery.

A prosecutor asked for an extended time to prepare the brief because of the large amount of digital material that needed to be processed.

The 26-year-old is facing one charge of preparing for a terrorist act between December 1 and yesterday.

Chaarani did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to reappear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on April 28.

In a separate hearing, Hamza Abbas, 21, was remanded by magistrate Tim Bourke until a committal mention date on April 28.

The Flemington man is charged with preparation in planning for a terrorist act.

Hamza, wearing a grey T-shirt, did not apply for bail.

His lawyer, Jessie Smith, of Stary Norton Halphen, said he needed a nurse to attend to him.

Ms Smith said he had sustained soft tissue injuries during the police raid on his home to the face, left back, hip and shoulder.

Ahmed Mohamed, 24, from Meadow Heights, also faced Mr Bourke charged with the same offence.

Mr Mohamed appeared to make a book gesture with his hands to the veiled women, who cried throughout his proceeding and later attacked photographers outside the court

Mr Mohamed was also remanded to reappear on April 28.

One man remains in custody and is likely to face an out of sessions hearing tonight.

Police raid five properties

Police say they foiled the plot to attack landmark sites in Melbourne’s CBD on Christmas Day.

Commissioner Graham Ashton says there is evidence to suggest there were plans for an “explosive act” which had the power to injure or kill a “substantial” number of people in an area around Federation Square, St Paul’s Cathedral and Flinders St Station.

Police believe there were also plans to use other weapons including knives and firearms, Mr Ashton said.

Revelations the would-be terrorists were radicalised by IS propaganda point to the alleged Christmas Day attack being an Islamic terror plot.

Seven people have been arrested and five people remain in custody, after five properties in Gladstone Park, Flemington, Meadow Heights, Dallas and Campbellfield were raided.

Mr Ashton said last night’s raids had “neutralised” the threat.

ASIO and AFP officers, along with Victoria Police, had been monitoring a number of people across Melbourne.

Premier Daniel Andrews labelled the alleged plot an “evil act” and “not an act of faith”.

“Not acts of religious observance, not acts of faith ... they’re anything but that,” Mr Andrews said.

OPINION: Weakness not option in struggle for culture and society against terror attacks

Mr Ashton said those arrested were “self-radicalised, but certainly inspired by ISIS propaganda”.

Police said those in custody were a 24-year-old man from Meadow Heights, a 26-year-old man from Dallas, a 22-year-old man from Campbellfield, a 21-year-old man from Flemington and a 21-year-old man from Gladstone Park.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull praised the efforts of police.

“This is one of the most substantial terrorist plots that has been disrupted over the last several years,” Mr Turnbull said.

He said this morning’s news would be “of great concern to all Australians” during a time of peace and love.

“But we must not be cowered by the terrorists,” Mr Turnbull said.

“We will continue to go about our lives as we always have.

“What these criminals seek to do is to kill.

“But they also seek to frighten us ... into abandoning our Australian way of life.”

PM Malcolm Turnbull addresses foiled terror plot PM Malcolm Turnbull addresses foiled terror plot

Australia’s terrorist threat level was elevated to “probable” in September 2014.

Since that date, there have been four terrorist attacks in Australia and 12 “successful major disruption operations”, Mr Turnbull said.

He said 57 people had been arrested as a result of 25 counter-terrorism operations across the country in the past two years.

“I want to thank the men and women of the police in Victoria, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO and other agencies in their work in thwarting this terrorist activity which was an Islamist terrorist plot,” Mr Turnbull said.

“It has been a very complex investigation and it speaks volumes for the competence and professionalism of our police and security agencies which are the best in the world.”

Opposition leader Matthew Guy urged Victorians to be “constantly vigilant about public safety”.

“At this time of Christmas, it is a reminder that our emergency services continue their tireless efforts to keep us safe,” he said.

“We as a community need to always be aware that there are people who aim to attack our way of life particularly on days of national and religious significance.

“Extremism simply has no place in our society.”

Residents of a quiet Flemington public housing estate described how up to 60 police descended on their street “like stealth” before barging into one of the houses about 8pm last night.

“They were dead quiet. No sirens, no flashing lights, no nothing,” a neighbour who didn’t want to be named, told the Herald Sun.

One of the homes raided by police in Flemington. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

“There were undercover cars blocking all of the exits. The riot SWAT team (Special Operations Group) were even here with their balaclavas and machine guns. It was full-on.”

Another resident said she was “feeling a little bit shaken”.

“Thank God for the police. They do a great job,” she said.

Read the full report here

Vision shows the scene of Melbourne terror raids Vision shows the scene of Melbourne terror raids

Extra cops deployed after Vic terror plot

A BEEFED up police presence will be visible at the Boxing Day test, Christmas Carols and events across Victoria after police thwarted the alleged terrorist plot.

“We know there’s lot of events on over the next several days right across our state including the Boxing Day test, Christmas carols, other events that are on,” he told reporters on Friday.

“There is no intelligence to suggest there is any threat whatsoever in relation to any of those events.

“However we’re just making sure we’re taking those extra precautions given what we’ve been dealing with over the last couple of weeks.”

Commissioner Ashton said he had spoken to Cricket Australia on Friday to assure additional layers of security was added to the Boxing Day Test.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the extra police officers deployed will be on top of the significant police resources out over the Christmas and New Year period.

“Victorians should go about their business,” he said, but added that people should remain alert during this time and speak to police if they notice anything of concern.