West Melbourne Mosque Closes Due to Suspicious Package

A mosque on Jeffcott Street in West Melbourne has temporarily closed following reports of a suspicious package, prompting Victoria Police to conduct a safety check.

Emergency Response and Investigation

Victoria Police officers were dispatched to Jeffcott Street around 4 PM to investigate the suspicious package. As a precautionary measure, the area surrounding the mosque has been cordoned off.

All mosque events and activities are currently suspended, and public access to the building is not permitted. A staff member discovered the package when approximately 50 people were present inside the building.

Emergency services, including a bomb squad, are on site and actively managing the situation. The closure significantly impacts evening Ramadan observances, which typically host around 800 attendees.

Background Context

This incident follows a suspicious voicemail received by the Islamic Council of Victoria earlier in the week. Reportedly, this voicemail contained a name that also appeared on the suspicious package found at the mosque.