The arrests of two men in Australia accused of preparing a terror act to be carried out in Sydney has prevented something catastrophic, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird says.
The two men have been charged with planning an imminent terrorist act and are due to appear in court tomorrow.
Police believed the pair had been planning to target someone in a deadly attack in the name of the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
The men, aged 24 and 25, were arrested in a raid in Sydney's west yesterday after a tip-off alerted authorities and NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said counter-terrorism officers acted quickly.
"The type of act that we will allege that was going to be undertaken is consistent with the messaging coming out of IS," she said.
"I would like to however reassure the community that we are of the view that there is no further imminent attack relating to these two men."
It is alleged that a number of items were found in the Fairfield home raided by police including a machete, a hunting knife, a home-made flag representing IS, and also a video which depicted a man talking about carrying out an attack.
Ms Burn said the video was what made police believe the attack was imminent.
"One of the items that will be introduced into evidence is a video, and in that video, we will allege that one of the men indicated that an attack was going to be carried out," she said.
The two men were due to appear in Fairfield Local Court today but it has been adjourned until tomorrow due to security issues.
- ABC
