Sydney man accused of joining ISIS, radicalising teens online

A Sydney man is accused of being an ISIS recruit who downloaded information on weapons and tried to radicalise teenagers online.

Youssef Uweinat, 21, was arrested this morning by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team and is set to be charged with terrorism offences.

The Riverwood man, an Australian citizen, allegedly posted increasingly extremist material on social media.

He allegedly downloaded information on weapons including knives and blunt implements which could be used in a terrorist attack.

Assistant Commissioner Ian McCartney from the Australian Federal Police said one of the offences the man is set to be charged with carries a life sentence.

They also allege he swore allegiance to ISIS plus attempted to influence people as young as 17 and 18  "to adopt and act upon his extremist views".

Police said there were no specific targets, and say while the activity was not linked to last week's London Bridge terror attack, the incident was a factor.

"If there's a terrorist act committed in another country we're always concerned what impact that will have," Ass Comm McCarthy, said.

"He's provided commentary in relation to other terrorist attacks that have occurred around the world.

"We're satisfied the threat was not imminent

"We decided to act early, because we needed to, we were concerned.

"This is not about religion, this is about criminality."

Investigators and forensics officers were seen inside the first floor apartment today.

A neighbour today said there was a son and daughter as well as parents living there.

"They're nice people," she said.

"I don't believe it."

She said she got a call at 5.30am telling her something was going on in the street.

Two other search warrants are ongoing in south west Sydney, say police.

Investigators, who have been working on the case for six months, have not identified any specific or impending threats.