Melbourne anti-weapons protest being investigated as terrorist act by ‘far-left extremists’

Federal police say those who vandalised a defence manufacturer and torched nearby cars could face life imprisonment

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Anti-weapons protesters who vandalised a defence manufacturer and set nearby vehicles alight could face life imprisonment after police said the incident was being investigated as an act of terrorism by far-left extremists".

The Australian federal police, their Victorian counterparts and spy agency Asio are examining whether the incident at Melbourne-based Lovitt Technologies on 5 July 2025 was potentially perpetrated by far-left extremists, motivated by anarchist and revolutionary ideologies", a joint statement said.