Alal brothers: YouTube pranksters sorry for drive-by shooting video

THREE Melbourne brothers, known as the Jalal brothers, who caused outrage after they fired a fake AK-47 at a young girl, filmed fake abductions and suicide bomb stunts are in police custody.

Victoria Police said in a statement to news.com.au that Counter Terrorism Command detectives executed a warrant this morning in the Melbourne suburb of South Morang.

“The warrants relate to an ongoing operation. Three men presented themselves at the Crime Command Police Complex around 8.35 this morning,” the statement read. “The men, aged 20, 18 and 16 are currently in custody assisting with inquiries.”

While it is unclear if the brothers will be charged, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told 3AW he believed criminal offences were committed, including assault, imitation firearms and, if the boys made money from their videos, proceeds of crime.

It appears the brothers took themselves to police after doing the rounds on breakfast TV this morning.

They first appeared on Today when they admitted to host Karl Stefanovic that they went too far and promised to “tone it down a bit”.

The pranksters, who pretended to shoot the weapon out of a car while dressed in white robes, attracted a storm of criticism with Stefanovic questioning the trio over their antics.

The brothers admitted they had gone too far with their latest stunt and “were a bit stupid”.

Speaking on the breakfast show, the brothers apologised if they had offended anyone but did say they had permission from the father featured in the video to post it online.

“Now I love satire and some of your stuff is edgy, but you did get that one wrong, right?,” Stefanovic asked the brothers.

“Nup,” Max answered before Arman corrected him with “yes”.

“I mean, yep,” Max said before telling Stefanovic, “I can hardly hear you”.

When asked what their own parents thought about the prank videos, the trio were less forthcoming.

Max, the eldest brother who did most of the talking on behalf of the trio, answered: “No comment on our parents”.

Stefanovic then asked if they were in big trouble, to which they answered yes.

“I think people would be pleased to hear that,” he said.

The Today host, well known for his sense of humour, admitted there was some satirical genius in what the boys created but he hoped they had learned their lesson.