POLICE have launched raids on homes in several suburbs in the Australian city of Melbourne where a suspected terrorist was shot dead last week.

A joint state and federal police operation, supported by surveillance helicopters, executed search warrants in the suburbs of Seabrook, Kealba, Meadow Heights, Broadmeadows and Flemington.

At least one man was reported to have been handcuffed and taken into custody.

Officers said the raids in Australia's second-largest city were not a response to a threat to public safety, nor were they related to last week's shooting.

Numan Haider, 18, was killed after he stabbed two police officers during a routine meeting outside a Melbourne police station. Both officers are recovering.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the knife attack was inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group.

Two weeks ago, police detained 16 people in ­counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and charged one with conspiring with an IS leader.