Alleged IS affiliate charged with possessing blueprint to attack ‘symbolic’ Sydney locations
A 29-year-old man from Bundaberg has been charged with terrorism offences. Photo: Getty
A 25-year-old Sri Lankan man accused of being an Islamic State affiliate has been charged with possessing a blueprint to target several “symbolic” Sydney locations.
Officers from NSW’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) arrested Mohamed Nizamdeen at Kensington, in Sydney’s south-east.
The University of New South Wales contractor appeared in Waverley Local Court on Friday where he was refused bail, with the matter adjourned to October 24.
Mr Nizamdeen is in Australia on a student visa, and police will allege they found documents containing plans to facilitate terrorism attacks on the university campus.
Police searched a unit on Defries Avenue in Zetland about 2am on Friday, where they seized several electronic items. They are currently searching his workplace.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) detective superintendent Michael McTiernan said the charges were “serious and significant”.
“It is quite a significant document which requires further analysis,” he said.
“At this stage there is a number of locations and individuals named in that document who are potential targets.”
Police allege Mr Nizamdeen was acting on his own, and despite telling a media conference he appeared to be an Islamic State affiliate, they have not charged him with being a member of a terrorist organisation.
-ABC