A Sri Lankan man with alleged links to ISIS who was charged with terrorism-related offences allegedly planned to assassinate former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mohamed Kamer Nizamdeen, 25, allegedly wrote a list of names and locations he would target in his attacks, including prominent political figures and famous locations around Sydney.
The university staffer was arrested at UNSW’s Kensington campus, in Sydney’s south east, about 2pm on Thursday.
New South Wales police allegedly found documents ‘containing plans to facilitate terrorism attacks’ and a notebook that named a number of locations and individuals as ‘potential targets’.
Mr Turnbull was mentioned as a target, as was Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and former MP Bronwyn Bishop.
Mohamed Kamer Nizamdeen, 25, (left front) was arrested by members of the New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team at UNSW in Kensington, in Sydney’s south east, about 2pm on Thursday
Mr Turnbull was mentioned as a target, as was Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and former MP Bronwyn Bishop
The Opera House and local police stations were also targeted in the document used in the preparation for a series of terror attacks.
There were allegedly graphic threats to assassinate the nation’s leaders, as well as Gladys Berejiklian and members of the public, Seven News reported.
‘From the documentation, we believe he would affiliate with ISIS,’ Detecting Superintendent Mick Sheehy said.
The diary allegedly referenced the affiliation with ISIS.
The Opera House and local police stations were also targeted in the document used in the preparation for a series of terror attacks
The accused, Mohamed Kamer Nizamdeen, 25, is seen here in an ad for UNSW Heroes
Officers were reportedly alerted to the threat after a member of staff found the notebook and handed it in to the police.
After the notebook was found, police executed a search warrant at his home on Defries Avenue, Zetland, about 2am on Friday.
Police allege a number of electronic items were seized from Nizamdeen’s home for further examination.
Australian Federal Police detective superintendent Michael McTiernan said the charges laid against Nizamdeen were ‘serious and significant’.
‘It is quite a significant document which requires further analysis.’
‘We have both psychologists and investigators looking at that document to try to interpret the intent and capability, but that is in essence the offence that is before the court.’
The accused, Mohamed Kamer Nizamdeen, is seen here on a UNSW advertisement
The 25-year-old was arrested by members of the New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team at University of New South Wales in Kensington, in Sydney’s south east, about 2pm on Thursday
Nizamdeen, who is in Australia on a student visa, was employed as a contractor at the University of NSW and has allegedly travelled back to Sri Lanka and ‘other areas’.
Police said he was not previously known to police and did not have any criminal history in Australia.
The 25-year-old was taken back to Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with ‘collecting or making a document connected with the preparation for, engagement of, or assistance in a terrorist act’.
Nizamdeen, who is in Australia on a student visa, was employed as a contractor at the University of NSW and has allegedly travelled back to Sri Lanka and ‘other areas’
After the documents were found, police executed a search warrant at a unit on Defries Avenue, Zetland, (pictured) on Friday
Nizamdeen was refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Friday, where the matter was adjourned for eight weeks.
Nizamdeen is due to appear at Central Local Court on October 24.
Police said Nizamdeen’s student visa was due to expire in Australia but he was in the process of applying for another one when he was arrested.
Authorities insist there was no ongoing threat to the community following the arrest.
Anyone with information has been urged to come forward and report what they know to the police.
The student was refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court (pictured) on Friday
The Sri Lankan man has been charged with terrorism-related offences in Sydney following an investigation by police and security agencies (police stock)
In a statement issued on Friday, UNSW said the university referred ‘a serious matter involving a member of staff to NSW police’.
The university confirmed the staffer was arrested and charged for the planning of a terrorist offence.
‘We will continue to assist police with their investigations and to act on the advice of NSW police,’ it said.