Tamim Khaja, 18, to appear in court on terror charges

THE teenager charged with plotting an “imminent” terrorist attack in Australia’s largest city reportedly tried to buy a suicide vest over the internet.

Sydney man Tamim Khaja was arrested following a joint counter-terrorism taskforce operation on Tuesday. Picture: NSW Police

THE teenager charged with plotting an “imminent” terrorist attack in Australia’s largest city reportedly tried to buy a suicide vest over the internet.

Tamim Khaja is facing two terror-related charges — the most serious being planning a terror attack. The second charge related to preparing to fight in Syria.

The first warning about Khaja came via the National Security Hotline where the caller reportedly told of “an imminent attack”.

The 18-year-old former student at Epping Boys High School was then prevented from leaving the country in February as he allegedly tried to head for Syria, in what is believed to have been his third attempt to flee. His passport was cancelled after the February attempt.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday morning Khaja had tried to buy a suicide vest online, but it was his alleged dealings with an undercover police officer over the purchase of a gun that sparked yesterday’s activity.

Tamim Khaja is taken into custody. Picture: NSW Police

Officers from the Australian Federal Police NSW Police, ASIO, were involved in yesterday’s operation. Picture: NSW Police

Khaja was arrested at a Parramatta carpark. The Telegraph reported alleged possible targets were government buildings, including police stations.

Australian Federal Police acting deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan said it was believed the teen was acting alone, although he had links to others already facing terror-related charges.

“We have taken swift action to ensure the safety of the community and we are satisfied that any threat to the community posed by the individual has been mitigated,” Mr Gaughan told reporters on Tuesday.

Attorney-General George Brandis said authorities had not acted until relatively late so that more evidence could be gathered. The man was “in the process” of acquiring a weapon, he told reporters in Brisbane.

“The judgment of the police was that he was intending to put it to use imminently,” Mr Brandis said.

Police search vehicles at the Macquarie Park family home of 18-year-old Sydney man Tamim Khaja who has been arrested over the plotting of an alleged terrorist act.

It was the ninth alleged plot since September 2014 that police say they have stopped. NSW deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said “disruptive” arrests were having an impact.

Although the warning via the security hotline was the first to warn of actual violence, authorities had been aware of Khaja since his time at Epping Boys.

It was at the school he was known to preach in the playground and described himself variously as a “gangster” and a “mini sheik”.

He left the school after allegations he was trying to influence students, however he was not in a formal “deradicalisation” program.

Khaja will appear in the Parramatta Local Court today where he is expected to be charged with planning a terrorism attack and one of preparing for foreign incursions. He is unlikely to apply for bail.

Originally published as Tamim Khaja, 18, to appear in court on terror charges