Third man arrested in Sydney terror raids charged, released on bail to face court on weapons offence

Police have charged a third man arrested in last weekend’s terror raids in Sydney.

Key points:

• 39yo man accused of possessing prohibited weapon
• Two other men arrested in the same raids have faced court over aeroplane attack plan
• Not clear if weapons charge linked to terror plot

Khaled Merhi, 39, was charged by NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police with one count of possessing a prohibited weapon and released on bail to face court later this month.

It has not been revealed by police whether the charge is connected to any alleged terrorist plots.

He was driven out of the Sydney Police Centre shortly before 5:00pm on Sunday.

Merhi had been in police custody for eight days, with authorities using special terrorism powers to hold him.

Two other men — arrested in the same raids — have already faced court over an alleged plan to bring down a passenger plane.

Khaled Khayat and Mahmoud Khayat have been remanded in custody to appear in court again in November.

Merhi’s brother, Abdul El Karim Merhi, was also arrested in the raid but police released him without charge on Tuesday night.

The Australian Federal Police have called the plan “one of the most sophisticated terror plots attempted on Australian soil”.

Source: Third man arrested in Sydney terror raids charged, released on bail to face court on weapons offence – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)