Victoria's Islamic Council says Muslim community doesn't have the resources to tackle extremism
Victoria's Islamic Council says the Muslim community doesn't have the resources to counter Islamic State's slick campaign about violent extremism.
The young men allegedly planning to attack police and bystanders in Melbourne on Anzac Day have been linked to Islamic State's most senior Australian fighter.
Ringleaders of the plot were in regular contact with Islamic State's top Australian member Melbourne man Neil Prakash, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
However Kuranda Seyit, secretary of the state's Islamic Council, told Macquarie Radio he wasn't aware of any link to Mr Prakash.
Three of the five men arrested in raids on Saturday have been released, while one man was charged and another was on Monday still being held on a preventative detention order.
Mr Seyit said the Muslim community was under resourced and struggling against the "slick campaign" being run by IS.
"Muslim leaders need to be given the tools to get through to these people and we don't presently have a group that can relate to these people," Mr Seyit said.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
