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Two men arrested in counter-terrorism operation in Sydney Man arrested in counter-terrorism operation 'breached control order'
(35 minutes later)
Two men have been charged after police arrested them in a counter-terrorism operation in Sydney. One of two men arrested in Tuesday’s counter-terrorism raids breached the terms of a control order by calling his mother and an associate, a Sydney court has heard.
On Wednesday morning Sulayman Khalid, 20, was charged with possession of documents designed to facilitate a terrorist attack. Police said they referred to potential government targets. A second man, Sulayman Khalid, 20, was refused bail in Parramatta local court on Wednesday after being charged with possession of documents designed to facilitate a terrorist attack.
Khalid was arrested at his home in Regent’s Park on Tuesday afternoon. He did not apply for bail at Parramatta local court on Wednesday and it was formally refused. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court again in February. The magistrate in the same court rejected the application for bail of the first man, who cannot be identified, saying there was an “unacceptable risk” the man would commit further offences if he were released.
It is alleged that the other man, a 21-year-old from Marsfield, who cannot be identified, had breached a control order that was served on him last Friday. He was arrested in Eastwood on Tuesday night, the AFP said in a statement. Counsel for the director of public prosecutions told the court the breaches of the order occurred when the man made two unauthorised phone calls – one from a mobile phone and the other from a pay phone.
He was refused bail in the same court on Wednesday. The conditions of the order specified that he was prohibited from using a public phone except in case of emergency.
“The second was a mobile phone which was not a mobile phone he was approved to use,” he said.
But the man’s lawyer, Arjun Chhabra, told the court the breach was “technical” and bail should be granted.
“There must be a factual, evidentiary basis that this was done to evade, given that the court has before us the contents of those phone calls ... the alternative and reasonable inference the court must draw is that there was nothing nefarious discussed,” he said.
A further hearing for the matter will be set down in February.
Khalid was arrested at his home in Regent’s Park on Tuesday afternoon. He did not apply for bail on Wednesday and it was formally refused. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court again in February.
The Australian Federal Police said the arrests were made by members of the joint counter-terrorism team with NSW police as part of Operation Appleby.The Australian Federal Police said the arrests were made by members of the joint counter-terrorism team with NSW police as part of Operation Appleby.
The AFP said it was monitoring a group of about 15-20 people whose ideology was linked to Islamic State.The AFP said it was monitoring a group of about 15-20 people whose ideology was linked to Islamic State.
The AFP deputy commissioner Michael Phelan told reporters on Wednesday morning the group had been having “conversations and activity” for a year. AFP deputy commissioner Michael Phelan told reporters on Wednesday morning the group had been having “conversations and activity” for a year.
In September more than 800 police were involved in raids that led to 15 people being detained and one charged.In September more than 800 police were involved in raids that led to 15 people being detained and one charged.
Phelan said a “significant amount” of material had been seized in the September raids that gave rise to significant concern for law enforcement and intelligence agencies and resulted in Wednesday’s charges. Phelan said a “significant amount” of material had been seized in the September raids that gave rise to concern for law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and resulted in Wednesday’s charges.
He said police believed the group was involved in supporting terrorism “through funding or otherwise”, and had been involved in facilitiating the travel of people to foreign states to engauge in fighting. He said police believed the group was involved in supporting terrorism “through funding or otherwise”, and had been involved in facilitiating the travel of people to foreign states to engage in fighting.
Omarjan Azari appeared in court on Friday charged with preparing to commit a terrorist attack.
On Tuesday the prime minister, Tony Abbott, warned that intelligence agencies had picked up increased terrorism “chatter” and reiterated that the security threat level remained high, meaning a terrorist attack was “likely”.On Tuesday the prime minister, Tony Abbott, warned that intelligence agencies had picked up increased terrorism “chatter” and reiterated that the security threat level remained high, meaning a terrorist attack was “likely”.