Jailed man accused of leading terror group

A former Sydney security guard behind bars for helping seven young Australians fight with Islamic extremists in Syria has been charged with directing a Sydney-based terrorist organisation.

He is serving a minimum six-year term for arranging for the men to make their way to the battlefields to fight alongside a notorious Australian terrorist.

The 45-year-old appeared briefly via video link before Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday when his latest case was adjourned to the same court on January 17.

He is charged with knowingly and intentionally directing a terrorist organisation.

Australian Federal Police, who charged him on Monday, allege he was the leader of a Sydney-based group that planned to commit acts of terrorism in Australia in 2014.

They said the charges were the result of investigations under Operation Appleby, which looked into acts which allegedly occurred prior to his arrest in 2014.