Terror plot guided by IS leader, AFP alleges

A TERROR plot to bring down a plane involved an improvised explosive device (IED) that had been assembled from components under the instruction of an Islamic State commander, Australian Federal Police will allege.

The components to build a chemical device were allegedly sent via post from Turkey in one package, deputy commissioner Michael Phelan said yesterday.

The men are accused of planning a terrorist act between July 16 and July 29 this year, according to a police charge sheet.

Police also allege in court documents that Khaled Khayat, 49, of Lakemba, and Mahmoud Khayat, 32, of Punchbowl, prepared or planned a terrorist act at Lakemba, in Sydney’s southwest. Officers claim there are links to a “senior member of IS in Syria”.

“This is one of the most sophisticated plots that has ever been attempted on Australian soil,” Mr Phelan said.

“We could very well have had a catastrophic event.

“We will be alleging the communication commenced around about April, that one of the two people who has been charged was put in contact with this IS controller around about April this year.

This is one of the most sophisticated plots that has ever been attempted on Australian soil AFP deputy commissioner MICHAEL PHELAN

“We are not going to assume anything. I am not going to be talking any names but one of the two gentlemen that has been charged, their brother, we are alleging, is a senior member of IS in Syria and he introduced another person we are calling the controller to one of the people that has been charged.”

The AFP will allege the components were assembled here under instruction from that commander and the IED was functional when it was allegedly planted on a relative who was due to take an Etihad flight on July 15. The attempt was abandoned after the luggage proved too heavy to take aboard the flight.

The unsuspecting relative continued to board the plane. He has not yet returned to Australia but is not believed to be a part of the alleged plot.

The men appeared in court yesterday charged with two counts of preparing or planning for a terrorist act.

They did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. They will reappear before the same court on November 14.

The men’s barrister Michael Coroneos said outside court that his clients should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

“Once the brief of evidence is served we can assess their legal position,” he said.

Mr Phelan confirmed that two search warrants were still ongoing.

One charge outlines how the pair allegedly planned an act between July 16 and 29 and another charge alleges they planned a terrorist act be-