A man arrested in anti-terrorism raids in Melbourne is believed to be a notorious extremist with links to Reclaim Australia.

Phillip Galea, 31, was arrested at his home in Braybrook, in Melbourne's west, as police launched a series of raids across Victoria, The Herald Sun reported.

Galea, well known as having links to the right-wing Reclaim Australia group, was jailed last year just days before an anti-mosque rally after a court decided he had weapons ready for an 'aggressive attack'.

Phillip Galea, 31, was arrested at his home as police launched a series of raids

Galea, well known as a member of the right-wing Reclaim Australia group, was jailed last year just days before an anti-mosque rally

After a series of anti-terrorism raids across Melbourne on Saturday, police escorted Galea from his home in Braybrook just before 4pm, Fairfax reported.

Victorian Police Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther told reporters that the arrested man, who he didn't name, had posed an escalating threat to the Victorian community.

'The individual in custody has a number of affiliations to different organisations,' Mr Guenther said.

An anonymous spokesman of the Reclaim movement later released a statement, insisting they were not associated with the extremist's arrest. 'We have always denounced violence of any kind.'

Police carry out the terror raid at a house on Ballarat Rd in Braybrook

The raids were carried out on four properties - two in Melbourne's north west, and two in regional areas

Police arrested the 31-year-old man in a series of anti-terrorism raids across Melbourne

Following the arrest on Saturday, 'there is no ongoing risk that we are aware for the Victorian community,' police said

Last year police found a small bottle of mercury at Galea's home which weighed about 360 grams and The Anarchist Cookbook, which has recipes for explosives

Following the arrest, 'there is no ongoing risk that we are aware for the Victorian community,' he said.

He is now being questioned by the Australian Federal Police.

Last year police found a small bottle of mercury at Galea's home which weighed about 360 grams and The Anarchist Cookbook, which has recipes for explosives.

Police said at the time the mercury was more than 3000 times the legal amount a person could have.

Galea's computer also revealed extreme right-wing political material.

On his Facebook page, Galea has shared various links to Reclaim Australia rallies and has uploaded a video of himself burning pro-refugee booklets in a metal bin.

Victorian Police Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther told reporters that the arrested man, who he didn't name, had posed an escalating threat to the Victorian community