Aust 'tipped off Bulgaria' over NSW man

A Sydney man facing a terrorism trial in Bulgaria was allegedly caught after the Australian government alerted authorities in the Balkan state about the 21-year-old.

John Zakhariev is facing allegations he trained in Bulgaria with the intention of fighting in Syria for Islamic State.

His lawyer, Hristo Botev, said the Australian government notified Bulgarian authorities in a letter that Zakhariev had been in Syria in 2013 and "he is interested in terrorism".

"This is what came from Australia, nothing more," Mr Botev told the ABC.

In a statement the Australian Federal Police said: "The AFP does not confirm or deny who it may or may not be investigating, nor does it comment on matters of intelligence."

The department of foreign affairs on Tuesday referred to an earlier statement which said: "The department is providing appropriate consular assistance to an Australian man detained in Bulgaria."

Local media reported last year investigations into Zacharia began when national security agencies became aware of his "activities".

It's alleged there was evidence the 21-year-old had been in contact with terrorists and radical Islamic preachers online.