ISIS accused 'creating Blue Mountains stronghold' court hears

A 20-year-old man from Sydney’s west allegedly proclaimed himself the “General Commander of Islamic State in Australia” and was preparing to carry out guerilla-style attacks across Sydney, a court has heard.

Isaac El Matari did not come up from the cells as his case was briefly mentioned in Parramatta Local Court this morning.

He’s been charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation, planning for a terrorist act and making plans contrary to the so-called foreign fighter legislation.

Court documents allege that he was preparing to travel to Afghanistan to fight as a member of Islamic State after answering the group's "call to war".

It’s alleged that he had obtained a visa from the Pakistani consulate and booked and paid for flights to Islamabad, via China, at Flight Centre in Penrith.

It’s also claimed that he had made arrangements to be smuggled across the Pakistan/Afghanistan border and into the IS enclave of Khorasan Province, where had made arrangements to obtain a rifle.

But it’s alleged he was also planning to commit acts of terrorism at home.

Court documents claim he was creating a stronghold in the Blue Mountains, where he was operating a contingent of IS fights and choosing locations in Sydney to conduct a terrorist attack.

Police say he was amassing American army clothes and was planning to import firearms and TNT into Australia.

He had also allegedly told others “we are terrorists” and talked about sacrificing himself for the Islamic State cause.

El Matari was arrested following raids on six Sydney properties on Tuesday by counter-terrorism police.

He did not apply for bail in court today and will be back before a magistrate on August 30.