Police say two people have been arrested today by the
Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) Sydney as part of the ongoing Operation
Peqin investigation.

They say a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old female,
both from the Sydney suburb of Guildford, were arrested this morning.

The 20-year-old man was taken to Parramatta Police
Station, while the female was taken to Granville Police Station.

Both are expected to be charged with one count each of getting
funds to, from or for a terrorist organisation.

The maximum sentence for this offence is 25 years
imprisonment.

NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said
the 20-year-old man is the last member of the original Operation Appleby group
to be charged with a criminal offence.

“I previously said that it was disturbing that we
continue to deal with teenaged children in this environment. And today’s arrest
hasn’t altered that position.”

“Once again we have demonstrated, and will continue to
do so, the effectiveness of our Joint Counter Terrorism Team’s ability to
investigate terror planning and to put people before the courts,” Deputy
Commissioner Burn said.

Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner National
Security Michael Phelan emphasised that today’s arrests did not relate to the
planning of a terrorist attack in Australia, and there was no imminent threat
to the community as a result of today’s activity.

“The charges these two people are expected to face
relate to their alleged activities in raising funds and attempting to transfer
those funds to an overseas terrorist organisation.”

“Today’s activity demonstrates the cooperative and
diligent work of the Sydney JCTT over the past two years. We will disrupt to
ensure the safety of the community, and follow that up with thorough
investigations to identify criminal behaviour,” Deputy Commissioner Phelan
said.

Today’s activities bring the total number of people
charged by the JCTT Sydney with connections to Operation Appleby to 14 since
September 2014.

– AFP