Five juveniles have been charged as the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) Sydney continues to investigate the associates of the alleged offender who conducted the stabbing at a Wakeley church.
About 11.15am yesterday (Wednesday 24 April 2024) investigators executed 13 search warrants across a number of suburbs in Sydney including Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Greenacre, Strathfield, Chester Hill, and Punchbowl, as well as a premises in Goulburn.
The operation involved more than 400 police from NSW and the AFP.
Seven juvenile males were arrested. A further five people, including two men and three juvenile males, also assisted police with their inquiries.
A number of items were seized as a result of yesterday's activity, including a significant amount of electronic material.
Following inquiries, five juveniles were charged with the following:
- Two males, aged 17 and 14, were charged with possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.
- Two males, both aged 16, were charged with conspiring to engage in any act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act.
- A male, aged 17, was charged with conspiring to engage in an act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act and custody of a knife in a public place.
All five were refused bail to appear before a Children's Court today (Thursday 25 April 2024).
Operational activity remains ongoing, with the other juveniles and men are assisting police with inquiries.
The warrants follow a stabbing incident at Wakeley on the evening of 15 April 2024. A 16-year-old boy has been charged over that incident and remains before the courts.
There is no specific threat to public safety and no threat to Anzac Day commemorations.
The Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney is comprised of members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and NSW Crime Commission.
Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
