Police sealed off a street in inner Melbourne on Friday evening after a suspicious package alert forced the closure of a mosque and Islamic community centre in the city’s west.
The incident occurred at the headquarters of the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) on Jeffcott Street in West Melbourne, which houses both the council’s offices and a mosque used by the local Muslim community.
The organisation issued an urgent message to community members late Friday afternoon warning that the premises had been shut after a suspicious package was identified.
“Police have responded and have completely cordoned off Jeffcott Street while they assess the situation,” the ICV said in a statement shared on social media.
“We ask all community members to avoid the area and follow police directions.”
Victoria Police confirmed officers were called to the location at about 4pm to conduct what they described as a safety check.
Authorities did not immediately confirm whether a suspicious package had been discovered but said officers remained at the scene while assessments were carried out.
By early evening the surrounding street remained cordoned off as a precaution, with minor traffic disruptions reported in the area.
The incident forced the suspension of all mosque activities at the centre, including an Iftar dinner planned for Friday night to mark Ramadan following sunset prayers.
Police continued investigating the situation on Friday evening as officers assessed the premises and surrounding area.
The Islamic Council of Victoria is the peak representative body for Muslim communities in the state and frequently hosts religious events, community gatherings and public discussions at its West Melbourne headquarters.
