'Syria recruiter' charged with preparing Australia terror attack

Agim Kruezi, 22, was initially accused of recruiting, funding and sending jihadist fighters to Syria after he was detained in Brisbane on September 10.

He is now facing a new charge of committing an act in preparation for a terrorist act by transporting a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of life in jail, authorities said.

Kruezi was also Friday charged with possessing machetes, knives, balaclavas, military fatigues, fuel, corks, and a firearm in connection with preparing for a terrorist act.

“These additional charges are as a result of ongoing investigations into the man’s activities including the alleged preparation and recruitment for incursions into Syria to fight,” federal police said in a statement.

The additional charges came after Australia last month raised its terror threat level to “high” after years on “medium” on growing concern about jihadists returning from fighting in Iraq and Syria.

The case against Kruezi and Omar Succarieh, 31, who was also arrested in the Queensland operation, were adjourned to December 19 after a hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Another man — Louis Maestracci, 32, who was charged with funding jihadists travelling overseas to fight after a separate Brisbane raid in late September — also had his case adjourned to the same date.

Crown prosecutor Shane Hunter told the court police needed more time to prepare their evidence against the men because they were busy with preparations for the G20 leaders’ summit in Brisbane in November.

A week after the Queensland raids, police mounted their largest ever counter-terrorism operation across Sydney and Brisbane, with one person so far charged with serious terrorism-related offences.

In a separate incident, a “known terror suspect” — 18-year-old Abdul Numan Haider — was shot dead by police after stabbing two officers outside their station on the outskirts of Melbourne late last month. (AFP)