Isaak el Matari had plans to create Islamic State base near Sydney, court hears By Nick Sas and Lara Hyams A man charged with terror offences planned to create an Islamic State (IS) base in the Blue Mountains and encourage fighters to launch "guerilla-stye" attacks in Sydney, court documents allege. Isaak el Matari, 20, appeared in Parramatta Supreme Court today charged with three offences including being a member of IS and preparing a terrorist act. He was arrested during sweeping counterterrorism raids in western Sydney on Tuesday. In a charge sheet tendered in court today, police allege Mr el Matari appointed himself the "general of Islamic State" in Australia and wanted to create an army that would launch "guerilla-stye" terror attacks. The plans allegedly included creating a stronghold in the Blue Mountains, overseeing a contingent of IS fighters and identifying locations across Sydney to conduct terror attacks. In the documents, police alleged Mr el Matari "made it known" he was a member of IS, had plans to bring firearms and explosives into Australia and talked about sacrificing himself for the IS cause. He also "amassed American army clothes" in preparation for the attacks and went to the Pakistani consulate in Australia to obtain a visa for travel, police allege. It is alleged he booked and paid for flights to Islamabad at a Flight Centre in Penrith and then made arrangements to be smuggled across the Pakistani border, through China, and into Afghanistan for the purpose of "hostile activity". During a press conference on Tuesday, the AFP said they had been monitoring Mr el Matari since he returned from Lebanon last year. Mr el Matari did not appear in court today and was refused bail. Two other men also arrested in yesterday's raids were charged yesterday. Radwan Dakkak, 23, from Toongabbie, was charged with being a member of IS and refused bail. A 30-year-old man, who police alleged was an associate of Mr Dakkak and Mr el Matari, was charged with fraud offences and granted bail. Contact Nick Sas More stories from New South Wales
Terror accused was planning 'guerrilla style' attacks on Sydney, court hears
Isaak el Matari had plans to create Islamic State base near Sydney, court hears By Nick Sas and Lara Hyams A man charged with terror offences planned to create an Islamic State (IS) base in the Blue Mountains and encourage fighters to launch "guerilla-stye" attacks in Sydney, court documents allege. Isaak el Matari, 20, appeared in Parramatta Supreme Court today charged with three offences including being a member of IS and preparing a terrorist act. He was arrested during sweeping counterterrorism raids in western Sydney on Tuesday. In a charge sheet tendered in court today, police allege Mr el Matari appointed himself the "general of Islamic State" in Australia and wanted to create an army that would launch "guerilla-stye" terror attacks. The plans allegedly included creating a stronghold in the Blue Mountains, overseeing a contingent of IS fighters and identifying locations across Sydney to conduct terror attacks. In the documents, police alleged Mr el Matari "made it known" he was a member of IS, had plans to bring firearms and explosives into Australia and talked about sacrificing himself for the IS cause. He also "amassed American army clothes" in preparation for the attacks and went to the Pakistani consulate in Australia to obtain a visa for travel, police allege. It is alleged he booked and paid for flights to Islamabad at a Flight Centre in Penrith and then made arrangements to be smuggled across the Pakistani border, through China, and into Afghanistan for the purpose of "hostile activity". During a press conference on Tuesday, the AFP said they had been monitoring Mr el Matari since he returned from Lebanon last year. Mr el Matari did not appear in court today and was refused bail. Two other men also arrested in yesterday's raids were charged yesterday. Radwan Dakkak, 23, from Toongabbie, was charged with being a member of IS and refused bail. A 30-year-old man, who police alleged was an associate of Mr Dakkak and Mr el Matari, was charged with fraud offences and granted bail. Contact Nick Sas More stories from New South Wales
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