Australian Federal Police counter-terror operation in Young | Photos, Video

5:30pm Australian Federal Police release footage and photos from the raid earlier today. (Photos added to gallery below).

4:30pm: FORTY-TWO year old Haisem Zahab from Cherry Vale Place, Young, has been arrested and charged with a number of offences relating to terrorism. 

Mr Zahab did not apply for bail when he appeared before Young Local Court on Tuesday afternoon, and it was formally refused by magistrate Peter Dare. 

Mr Zahab will be held in custody before appearing in the Paramatta Local Court on Wednesday, March 8, via audio-visual link. 

Mr Zahab has been charged with giving and receiving goods and  services to promote commission of section 119.1 offence between 12am on December 1, 2014 and and February 28, 2017 at Young. 

He was also charged with intentionally performing services for a body, being Islamic State with the research, design, and modelling of a long-range missile and a guidance system for the missile with the intention of supporting or promoting the commission of an offence against section 119.1 of the criminal code and for the  research and design of a laser warning receiving with the intention of supporting or promoting the commission of an offence against section 119.1 of the criminal code. (*scroll to the bottom of the story for more details about the sections under which he has been arrested and charged). 

Magistrate Peter Dare said these charges could carry life sentences.

The Commonwealth prosecutor Ms L Thompson would not confirm if the appearance via audio-visual link was for security reasons, only saying it was the instructions she had been given. 

4:20pm: AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the man will be charged with a number of offences, including two "serious" foreign incursion offences on Tuesday.

It is alleged the man, a 42-year-old Australian-born electrician, attempted to research and design a laser warning device and missiles for Islamic State.

"He'll be charged with a number of offences which include two serious foreign incursion offences under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

"With these offences, we will allege that he has utilised the internet to perform services for ISIL, activities in the Syria and Iraq conflict, from Australia in the following ways.

"Firstly, by researching and designing a laser warning device to help warn against incoming guided munitions used by coalition forces in Syria and Iraq. And secondly, we will also allege that he has been researching, designing and modelling systems to assist ISIL's efforts to develop their own long-range guided missile capabilities."

Mr Colvin said the alleged advice provided by the "technically-trained" man was "fairly sophisticated and well-planned".

"We will be alleging that the material that he was intending to provide to ISIL, the research he was doing, was credible," he said.

3.30pm: A man has been arrested and is about to appear in Young Local Court following a counter terror operation in Young on Tuesday afternoon. 

3pm: Dozens of Australian Federal Police Officers have been searching a property at Cherry Vale Place in Young with metal detectors.

The raid began on Tuesday morning and is ongoing.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it will be alleged the man "acted with intent to provide ISIL with the capability" to detect and develop missiles.

"This morning, the Australian Federal Police arrested a 42-year-old man in the New South Wales town of Young in relation to terrorism offences," Mr Turnbull said in a briefing at Parliament House in Canberra.

"This operation does not relate to any planned terrorist attack in Australia.

"Police will allege that the man arrested has sought to advise ISIL on how to develop high-tech weapons capability. This highlights that terrorism, support for terrorist groups, and Islamist extremism is not limited to our major cities."

EARLIER: The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are conducting an investigation in Young today in regards to an ongoing matter.

The operation is taking place at a residence in Cherry Vale Place in Young.

The AFP have confirmed they are conducting operational activity in relation to an ongoing investigation in Young, NSW on Tuesday. 

The AFP has said this activity is not related to a current or impending threat to the community.

According to the AFP this activity remains ongoing and it is not appropriate to provide further comment.

Further details will be provided by the AFP at an appropriate time once activity is finalised.

• MORE DETAILS: 
  

SECTION 119.4:  Preparations for incursions into foreign countries for purpose of engaging in hostile activities 

Giving or receiving goods and services to promote the commission of an offence

(5)  A person commits an offence if:

(a)  the person engages in any of the following conduct (whether within or outside Australia)

• (i)  giving money or goods to, or performing services for, any other person, body or association;
• (ii)  receiving or soliciting money or goods, or the performance of services; and

(b)  the person engages in the conduct with the intention of supporting or promoting the commission of an offence against section 119.1; and

(c)  when the person engages in the conduct, the person:

• (i)  is an Australian citizen; or
• (ii)  is a resident of Australia; or
• (iii)  is a holder under the Migration Act 1958 of a visa; or
• (iv)  has voluntarily put himself or herself under the protection of Australia; or
• (v)  is a body corporate incorporated by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory.

Penalty:  Imprisonment for life.

Offence for entering foreign countries with the intention of engaging in hostile activities

(1)  A person commits an offence if:

(a)  the person enters a foreign country with the intention of engaging in a hostile activity in that or any other foreign country; and

(b)  when the person enters the country, the person:

• (i)  is an Australian citizen; or
• (ii)  is a resident of Australia; or
• (iii)  is a holder under the Migration Act 1958 of a visa; or
• (iv)  has voluntarily put himself or herself under the protection of Australia.

Penalty:  Imprisonment for life.

Offence for engaging in a hostile activity in a foreign country

(2)  A person commits an offence if:

(a)  the person engages in a hostile activity in a foreign country; and

(b)  when the person engages in the activity, the person:

• (i)  is an Australian citizen; or
• (ii)  is a resident of Australia; or
• (iii)  is a holder under the Migration Act 1958 of a visa; or
• (iv)  has voluntarily put himself or herself under the protection of Australia.

Penalty:  Imprisonment for life.

Absolute liability element

(3)  Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(b).

Note: For absolute liability, see section 6.2.

Exception

(4)  Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to an act done by a person in the course of, and as part of, the person's service in any capacity in or with:

(a)  the armed forces of the government of a foreign country; or

(b)  any other armed force if a declaration under subsection 119.8(1) covers the person and the circumstances of the person's service in or with the force.

Note 1: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4): see subsection 13.3(3).

Note 2: For conduct for the defence or international relations of Australia, see section 119.9.

(5)  Paragraph (4)(a) does not apply if:

(a)  the person intends to engage, or engages, in a hostile activity in a foreign country while in or with an organisation; and

(b)  the organisation is a prescribed organisation at the following time:

• (i)  for subsection (1)--the time of the entry referred to in that subsection;
• (ii)  for subsection (2)--the time the person engages in the hostile activity referred to in that subsection.