Men planning for an attack
The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has been investigating the men and their associates for 12 months and allegedly uncovered their early preparations to target prominent Sydney landmarks including police stations, consulates and embassies, courts, and churches, but hadn’t yet selected a specific site or timeline.
HEAVILY armed officers from the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) have raided properties in Greenacre, Toongabbie, Chester Hill, Ingleburn, Green Valley and Canada Bay and arrested three men in the culmination of a year-long investigation.
A 20-year-old man from Greenacre is expected to be charged with one count of acts in preparation for a terrorist act and one count of engage in preparations for incursions into foreign countries for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities.
It will be alleged in court that he had made early-stage preparations and had expressed an intention to carry out a terrorist attack in Australia.
A 23-year-old from Toongabbie is also expected to be charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation, namely Islamic State, while a 30-year-old from Chester Hill is expected to be charged in relation to alleged unemployment benefit fraud.
AFP assistant commissioner Ian McCartney said the investigation highlighted the effectiveness of law enforcement and intelligence agencies working together, adding that it was the 16th potential terror plot disrupted to date.
NSW Police assistant commissioner Mick Willing also highlighted the JCTT’s investigation into online activities.
“The online environment provides fast and easy access to information and, unfortunately, those benefits are also being exploited by extremists, who use digital technologies to exist ‘virtually’ if their physical existence is under threat,” he said.
