Man on terror charges after cop-killing threat

POLICE have laid terror charges against a Sydney man who allegedly threatened to kill police while armed with a knife last year.

Blake Nicholas Pender, 26, allegedly approached police officers from behind in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills in June 2017 while wielding a knife.

During his arrest, police will allege, he made numerous comments about wanting to become a martyr and kill police.

It is understood he is not connected to any established terror group.

Initially, he was charged with intimidating a police officer, going armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and custody of knife in a public place.

When he appeared in court in June and was refused bail, he yelled: “F--- you judge, you will be next.”

He also pointed at the women in the courtroom and made throat-slitting motions and mimed loading a gun.

Following an investigation by NSW Police’s Fixated Persons Unit, Mr Pender was charged yesterday with two further offences – possessing a thing connected with a terrorist act and doing an act in preparation for or planning a terrorist act.

“He was on the radar prior (to the incident),” Assistant-Commissioner for Counter Terrorism Mick Willing said.