Daniel Andrews denies claims Melbourne is Australia's 'terror central'

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has rejected claims Melbourne is Australia's "terror central" and says that evil is everywhere.

His comments come just a day after authorities foiled an alleged major terror plot, where it is claimed three men planned to shoot as many people as possible in a crowed spot in the city.

During the dramatic early morning raids yesterday, police swooped on Ertunc Eriklioglu, 30, in Dallas, while his brother Samed, 26, was arrested in Campbellfield. The third suspect, 21-year-old Hanifi Halis, was apprehended following a raid at a Greenvale home.

They have all since been charged with planning a terrorist act and have fronted court.

"This evil manifests itself in lots of different places across our nation," Mr Andrews told the TODAY Show.

"We know this is a very real issue. Very serious threats. No getting around that."

The premier pointed to the creation of Victoria's counter-terrorism command after Labor was elected to government four years ago.

"We saw the results of that work yesterday."

Meanwhile, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther said this morning they swooped on the three men after they allegedly made moves to purchase a semi-automatic weapon.

"Obviously, that risk to the community is completing unacceptable, so we moved to a position where we arrested the three men," Asst Comm Guenther said.

"The fact they were trying to acquire the capability (of carrying out the attack) is a deep concern to us.

"In the last two weeks, sadly we had the event in Bourke Street and the James Gargasoulas trial and we think the combination of those plus the ISIS propaganda machine has really energised them.

"There is no doubt inspiration for these kind of acts is drawn from other sources."

Asst Comm Guenther said they are still not aware if the men had selected a target to carry out the alleged attacks.

"In their mind, they reached a point where they wanted to select a target and do something more damaging but we’re not going to let that happen," he said.

Meanwhile, Qurans, mobile phones and computers were all seized from the suspects’ homes during the raids yesterday.

The father of the Erikilioglu brothers, Armagan, earlier told 9News his sons “don’t like Islamic State” and denied allegations they were planning an attack.

"There's no way…not Australia, no.

"They are very polite, they're not wild, they're not aggressive.

"They listen to the scholars like me, scholars and all that… but no, not Islamic State."

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the trio had been under investigation since March and the investigation was carried out by more than 200 officers.

All three suspects are Australian nationals of Turkish background and all had their passport cancelled by federal agencies earlier this year, in January, March and October.

Two of the men have no criminal history while the third was picked up in 2007 for the minor offence of failing to display L plates.

It is understood Ertunc Eriklioglu had become increasingly isolated in recent years, praying at home instead of attending a local mosque, a neighbour told the media.

Each of the men were remanded in custody until next April.