‘Isis-inspired’ Australian man charged with terrorism

A Sydney man was charged on Sunday with committing a terrorist attack and attempted murder that police said seemed to have been inspired by Islamic State, after he repeatedly stabbed a stranger on the street.

The 22-year-old stabbed the 59-year-old man who was walking through a park on Saturday, and attacked police who arrived, making statements that they said led them to conclude he was motivated by IS.

The victim, who was reportedly walking his dog in the park, suffered injuries to his body and hands, and remains in hospital in a serious condition.

“We know this person has strong extremist beliefs inspired by ISIS,” New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said at a news conference, using an acronym for the militant group originally known as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The suspect, Ihsas Khan, allegedly attempted to stab an officer before he was arrested, police said. 

Khan was refused bail in the Parramatta Bail Court and his case was adjourned until Wednesday. He did not enter pleas.

Speaking at a news conference, New South Wales state police deputy commissioner Catherine Burn said of the suspect: "We know that this person has strong extremist beliefs inspired by ISIS (Islamic State).

"What made him actually act yesterday, we don't know. But hopefully, our further investigations will uncover that. It was deliberate. It was violent."

The suspect was not believed to be connected to any terrorist groups known to police, Ms Burn said, but stressed the type of threat he posed was a new challenge to authorities.

"This is the new face of terrorism. This is the new face of what we deal with," Ms Burn said.

"There is an individual who, known to police for some matters, decides or for whatever reason, becomes inspired to act; they are able to get some basic capability and act.

"I think that there was concerning information about his behaviour... but not somebody that we would say is somebody who is front and centre in our work at the moment."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week said the threat of a terror attack in the nation was "real" after IS' call to followers to target prominent Australian locations.

Officials say they have stopped 10 terror attacks in Australia in the past two years.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said last week the threat of a terror attack in the nation was "real" after an IS call to followers to target prominent Australian locations.

Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals since 2014 and authorities have said they have thwarted a number of plots. There have been several "lone wolf" assaults, including a 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead.