What We Know About the Sydney 16-Year-Olds Charged With Terrorism Offences

Police have arrested two Sydney teens over alleged plans to commit a terrorist attack in Australia. The 16-year-olds from Bankstown were charged with "acts in preparation to commit a terrorist act" and also "membership of a terrorist organisation." These offences carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and 10 years, respectively.

The two males were taken into custody by the New South Wales police force's Joint Counterterrorism Team, after they were found outside a Muslim prayer hall in Bankstown with "bayonet-type knives." The ABC is also reporting the teens were in possession of "religious notes that allegedly pledged allegiance to Islamic State," which were written in Arabic.

Held overnight at Bankstown police station, both were charged early Thursday morning. Neither appeared in Parramatta Children's Court today for their bail hearings; however, both were formally refused bail. They will appear in court again in December.

"We will be alleging that the two 16-year-old boys went to a gun shop in Bankstown and purchased two knives. They've then gone from that location and caught a bus to the location in Bankstown where they were arrested," NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn told a press conference on Thursday.

While police cannot release any details about the underage suspects, reports are emerging that the boys were known to police. According to the ABC, one of the boys is the stepson of a convicted terrorist. The Australian is reporting one of the boys "first came to the attention of police two years ago, after he refused to stand for the Australian national anthem when it was played at East Hills High School, then his school."

"We don't have any specific information of a particular target," Deputy Commissioner Burn said. "What we do know though is that the actions, we will allege, were enough to say they were preparing to do an attack." It's understood both boys were under police surveillance in the lead up to their arrests.

Deputy Commissioner Burn told reporters this marked the 11th "imminent attack" police have intercepted in Australia, although she did not give a timeframe.

More as this story develops