Aussie police confirm teens planning ISIS-inspired attacks

Australia's New South Wales (NSW) police charged two young males with terror related offences on Thursday after they were caught red-handed planning an Islamic State inspired attack the previous day.

The two 16-year-olds were caught with two knives from which authorities believed were purchased at a gun shop in Sydney's Bankstown on Wednesday afternoon before catching a bus to a nearby location, where they were arrested by police and taken into custody, the Australian Associated Press reports.

At the moment, authorities are unaware of any specific target but believe an attack was imminent.

"Had we not been in the right place at the right time ... certainly somebody, potentially today, would be, or another day imminently, would be without their life," Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan told reporters on Thursday.

The teens have been charged with planning an act of terror, which carries a penalty of life behind bars, and being members of Islamic State, which carries a penalty of 10 years' prison.

The pair appeared before Parramatta Children's Court on Thursday morning after being charged about 05:00 local time (AEDT).

Neither of the boys had applied for bail, with their cases adjourned until December 7.

Police believe the pair had been radicalised, but would not say over how long or by whom.

"I think they had potential radicalisation from potentially radicalised peers," NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn said.

Burn refused to confirm reports one boy was related to a man already in jail convicted of terror offences.

"We know that they have connections with people who are radicalised and who are of concern to us," she said.

She said counter-terror police were "well aware" of the 16-year-olds before the alleged terror plot and held concerns about them.

Four Western Sydney properties in Bankstown, Revesby, Parramatta and Lakemba that are connected with the teenagers, including a prayer hall and multiple homes, were raided after their arrests.

Items were seized for forensic examination and police have not ruled out making further arrests over the thwarted alleged terror plot.

Burn would not comment on reports of a note being found on one of the boys, as the matter is now before the courts.

"We do have evidence. That will come out in court," she said.

Authorities say this is the 11th imminent attack prevented by the Joint Counter Terrorism Teams in Australia.

Australia, a staunch ally in the U.S.- led fight against terror in Syria and Iraq has remained on heightened alert for home-grown terror attacks for over two years, arresting and jailing at least 45 suspects in connection to domestic terror plots.

Authorities, however, are increasingly concerned about the young age of those being radicalized after a 16-year-old boy murdered police accountant Curtis Cheng in a lone-wolf style terror attack in early October 2015.

In late February, the teenage bride of an Australian terrorism suspect was arrested by counter-terrorism authorities for allegedly possessing a knife, an Islamic State flag and documents relating to a terror attack.

Her husband is already in custody on terror related charges. Endit