Teens arrested in Sydney for 'planned Daesh-inspired attack'

Police in Australia have alleged that two teenagers arrested on Wednesday were about to commit an attack inspired by Daesh.

The 16-year-old boys were arrested by a counter-terrorism team in a laneway behind a Muslim prayer hall, after they allegedly purchased the “bayonet-style" knives from a nearby gunshop. The charges were filed on Thursday, although the specific target of the planned attack remains unknown.

They were also carrying notes pledging allegiance to Daesh.

At a news conference, police said the boys had been charged with terror-related offences.

The Australian Broadcasting Corp reported that one of the boys is the son of a convicted terrorist, but the police did not disclose how long for or by whom the boys were radicalised and declined to comment on that report.

The pair did not appear in Parramatta Children's Court and did not apply for bail which was formally refused.

"We will be alleging this attack was inspired by Daesh," New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said.

"We don't have any specific information of a particular target where we will allege that there was going to be an imminent attack."

The arrests were part of an on-going counter-terrorism operation, local media said.