Sydney counter-terror raids: Man released after arrest in Islamic State-linked raids charged for possession of homemade stun gun
A MAN released on Sunday after being arrested in counter-terrorism raids linked to an Islamic State-ordered terror plot, allegedly was in possession of a homemade stun gun.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- ‘Jihadis’ plotted meat mincer bomb attack to blow up flight’
- Fourth man arrested in terror raids arrested charged
A MAN who was released on Sunday after being arrested in counter-terrorism raids linked to an Islamic State-ordered plot to blow up a plane, allegedly had a homemade stun gun, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.
A powerful makeshift stun gun was among hundreds of items seized and tested by police after the July 29 raids on six properties across Sydney, which also allegedly netted the meat mincer that was to be used to hide a bomb to destroy the passenger jet.
Spraypainter Khaled Merhi, 36, was held under special laws allowing him to be interrogated for seven days before he was released by Australian Federal Police late on Sunday. He was not charged with any terrorism-related offences.
He was charged with possessing a prohibited weapon — the homemade Taser — and released on police bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on August 24.
Merhi’s brother-in-law, Khaled Khayat, 49, of Lakemba, and Khaled’s brother Mahmoud Khayat, 32, of Punchbowl, remain in custody after being charged over the alleged plot to blow up an Etihad flight out of Sydney to Abu Dhabi on July 15, which police claim was directed by an IS “controller” in Syria.
Police allege the bomb was built from a DIY kit flown to Sydney from Syria via Turkey through the Khayats’ older brother Tarek Khayat, a senior Islamic State jihadist.
The bomb was to be hidden in the luggage of their unknowing younger brother but the plan was aborted and the improvised explosive device dismantled. The younger brother, Amer Khayat, flew out on the Etihad flight.
Police allege the brothers then received new information from the IS controller to make a hydrogen sulphide bomb which was to be possibly released on public transport.
Mr Merhi’s brother Abdul, 50, of Punchbowl, was released by police a week ago without charge after also being arrested during the raids.
Their cousin, Ahmed Merhi, is an IS fighter in Syria but it is not known whether he is in contact with Tarek Khayat.
Khaled Merhi was released on strict bail conditions, which require him to live at his family’s Surry Hills terrace and report once daily to Surry Hills Police Station between 6am and 8pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He is also subject to a curfew between 8pm and 6am.
Wearing a blue sling, Merhi was seen returning to his Cleveland St address escorted by family members last night.
Why alleged murder victim wasn’t taken to hospital metres away
When a pizza store owner was fatally stabbed outside his store, he was taken to a hospital 30km away when another was 600m down the road.
Mates on ‘periphery’ of caravan terror plot met in jail
Two of the three people arrested on the “periphery” of the Dural caravan terror plot met while serving time in a Sydney jail, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.