Five men have been arrested in Queensland over an alleged plan to take a small boat to Indonesia and join the Islamic State terror group.

Police arrested the group as they were towing a seven-metre boat towards Cape York, in far north Queensland.

Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio is among the five men from Melbourne, reportedly aged between 21 and 33 years old.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton told a media conference there was no evidence the men were planning a terrorist attack in Australia.

He said police would be considering charges after the men were questioned.

“We have a requirement to ensure that people can’t get offshore to go and fight in other countries, can’t get offshore to become hardened terrorists and come back here and pose a risk,” he said.

“If disruption means ultimately we don’t get sufficient evidence so we can charge them, we’ll accept that risk.”

Police said they have executed warrants in Victoria and one in Queensland after the arrests to gather evidence regarding potential foreign incursion offences.

All five men remain in custody in Cairns assisting police, pending further investigation.

– with other agencies