A 45-year-old man is expected to appear via video link before Parramatta court tomorrow (Tuesday, 12 November 2019) after being charged with an additional terrorism-related offence as part of Operation Appleby.
The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), comprising of members from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF), the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC) commenced Operation Appleby in 2014 - an investigation of offenders involved in domestic terrorist acts, foreign incursions into Syria and Iraq and the funding of terrorist organisations.
In 2016, the NSW JCTT charged the man with seven counts of preparations for incursions into foreign states for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities, contrary to section 7(1)(e) of the Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978 (Cth). He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of six years, and remains in custody serving this sentence.
Today (Monday, 11 November 2019), NSW JCTT investigators charged the man with an additional one count of directing a terrorist organisation, contrary to section 102.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for 25 years.
Police will allege the man was the leader of a Sydney-based group planning to commit acts of terrorism in Australia in 2014. This is a charge based on further investigation into acts which allegedly occurred prior to the man's arrest in 2014. There is no current or impending threat to the community.
Police continue to encourage the public to report any suspicious activity they see or hear to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
