Australia arrests teen for plotting terror attack

SYDNEY / AP

A teenager was arrested on Tuesday after Australian police alleged he had been planning to launch a terrorist attack in Sydney. The 18-year-old was expected to be charged with planning a terrorist attack, the Australian Federal Police said.
They said another charge — preparing to enter a foreign country to engage in hostile activities — was expected to be filed in connection with an earlier attempt by the teen to travel to Syria. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
“The planning was occurring now and we would say that an attack was probably imminent,” New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said.
The teen had been making arrangements to get a firearm, Australian Federal Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan said. Officials believe he was working alone, and his arrest means there is no longer any threat to public safety linked to the alleged plot, Gaughan said.
Burn and Gaughan declined to detail what the teen’s alleged plans involved, including what sites were the proposed targets.
The teen, who had been on authorities’ radar since last year, was stopped at Sydney airport in February when he attempted to travel to Syria, Gaughan said. His passport had been canceled and he was
prevented from leaving the
country.
Since then, the teen had been under police surveillance, Attorney-General George Brandis said.
Australia’s government raised the country’s terror threat level in 2014 in response to the domestic threat posed by supporters of the IS group.
Police have since conducted dozens of raids they say have been aimed at thwarting multiple terror plots around Australia, including an alleged plan to attack government buildings and a naval base in Sydney.