Australians to be charged with plotting terror attack

Investigators believe that the two males are part of a larger group that was planning to attack an Australian Federal Police building.

The suspects were charged with conspiring to conduct an act in preparation for terrorism.

Officials said the arrests were not related to a new terror threat, but linked to a plot they uncovered a year ago that prompted a series of raids in Sydney in December 2014.

Australian police said they had charged a 20-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy with conspiracy to conduct an act of terrorism after they were arrested during early-morning raids in Sydney on Thursday (Dec 10).

A 20-year-old Raby Bay man and a 15-year-old boy from Georges Hall were arrested at their homes in Sydney’s western suburbs.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and NSW Police will provide an update on the case on Thursday morning.

“As this is an ongoing operation – no further comment can be provided at this time”, AFP said in a statement.

Intelligence gained during anti-terrorism raids last September and December, in Sydney and Brisbane, led to Thursday’s arrests. “The Department of Education are aware of today’s activities, and we are working with schools because the whole aim is to prevent this thing from occurring”.

“To be putting a 15-year-old before the courts on very serious charges that carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment demonstrates the difficulties law enforcement face”, she said.