SYDNEY – A New South Wales teenager has been arrested by Australian Federal Police and NSW Police for allegedly planning a terrorist act in Sydney.

Police believe the 18-year-old Macquarie Park man was acting alone, and was in the process of buying a gun.

“We will allege that this individual was looking at possible sites in Sydney to undertake a terrorist attack and was making arrangements to acquire a firearm,” AFP Acting Deputy Commissioner Gaughan told a press conference.

NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said the safety of the community was top priority.

“As of today nine imminent attacks have been prevented.”

She added that it was unfortunate that the group of people involved in these foiled attacks are getting “younger and younger”.

“The really important thing is that we can’t do this alone, police cannot do this alone. We all have to work together, whether it’s family, schools or other community groups, we all have to work together because we can’t be in everyone’s bedroom, we can’t be in everyone’s lounge room.

“It’s up to all of us to work together, particularly the mums and the dads, the brothers and the sisters, the friends and the colleagues,” she said.

Police have also stressed that the arrest is not related to raids currently underway in Melbourne, which are part of an operation linked to five Victorian men who allegedly planned to travel by boat to Indonesia in a bid to join Islamic State.

– TiVi Tuan-san