Two Sydney schools placed on high alert over social media threats

Two Sydney schools were on high alert on Tuesday after receiving terror threats via social media.

Officers were on the scene and police are investigating the threats, a New South Wales police spokesperson told Xinhua.

The NSW Department of Education put both schools under a 'lock-out' scenario where movements in and out of the schools are monitored, however the school operations continue as normal.

"All staff and students are safe" and "both schools are working with NSW Police with their investigation," a department spokesperson said in a statement.

It is believed teachers at one of the schools were asked to monitor student behaviours last year amid fears terrorist recruiters were targeting young people after pro-Islamic State graffiti was sprayed over its walls.

Tuesday's lock-out comes only weeks after a 15-year-old radicalised teenager executed a police accountant in an "act of terror."

It is believed a fellow school classmate, whose brother is currently facing a series of terrorism charges related to aiding and facilitating the attack, drew the 15-year-old to radicalisation.

NSW authorities have been asked to speed up implementation of de-radicalisation programs that have been in the formulation stages for some months following an audit of school prayer groups ordered after revelations extremist interpretations of Islam may have been preached by a student at a northern Sydney high school.

"We need to provide more support, undoubtedly into our schools to deal with what is a new threat," NSW Premier Mike Baird said following the attack in early October.

"This threat, that is new here, is new across the world," he said. Endit