Five of the seven youths arrested in connection with the 16-year-old accused in the Wakeley church stabbing have been charged with various terrorism and extremism offences.
The teenagers were arrested after police seized electronics from the home of the alleged church stabber.
More than 400 officers from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), which includes NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) and the Australian Crime Commission NSW, raided 13 locations in south-west Sydney on Wednesday, including addresses in Greenacre, Strathfield, Bankstown, Prestons, Casula, Lurnea, Rydalmere, Chester Hill and Punchbowl.
Police said they made the arrests after judging there was a threat to the people of NSW.Credit: NSW Police
A site was also sought in Goulburn.
On Thursday morning, the police charged five of the youths, who appeared in the Children's Court the same day.
Two men, aged 17 and 14, were charged with possessing violent extremist material online and are due to apply for bail on Thursday afternoon, their lawyers told the court.
Two 16-year-old boys were charged with conspiracy to participate in any act of preparation or planning for a terrorist act. They made no bail offer and their matters were adjourned to June 21.
A 17-year-old was hit with the same charge, as well as carrying a knife in a public place. He appeared in court from custody via video link wearing a blue shirt. His lawyer made no bid for bail, but indicated he would make one when the case returns to court next Tuesday.
The youths arrested in Wednesday's raids were all under the watch of the JCTT following the stabbing at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Wakeley. A 16-year-old boy allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel several times during a live service. Bishop suffered non-life threatening injuries and the teenager was charged with a Commonwealth terrorism offence.
