Cricket star Usman Khawaja's brother Arsalan reportedly arrested over terror hit list

Arsalan Khawaja has reportedly been arrested over a document found at UNSW.

Arsalan Khawaja with his brother, cricket star Usman Khawaja.

Arsalan Khawaja with his brother, cricket star Usman Khawaja.

New South Wales Police have arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with an investigation into a terrorism 'hit list' found in a notebook at a Sydney university earlier this year. 

Ten Daily is reporting he is Arsalan Khawaja, the brother of Australian cricket star Usman Khawaja. 

Police say the man was arrested at Parramatta this morning and is being questioned "in relation to the alleged attempt to pervert justice, and forgery – making a false document".

"The arrest relates to documents allegedly found on University of NSW grounds in August this year containing plans to facilitate terrorism attacks," a police media statement said. 

Sri Lankan-born PhD student Mohamed Kamer Nizamdeen was earlier this year charged with a terror-related charge after his notebook was handed to police. 

The charges were dropped in October was released when a handwriting expert could not prove he had written it. 

The 25-year-old is now  after he spent four weeks behind bars.

The seized notebook allegedly contained details of a terrorist plot on a number of Sydney landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House, police and railway stations.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, ex-foreign minister Julie Bishop and their Liberal Party colleague Bronwyn Bishop were also listed as potential targets.

Police also announced in October that the investigation by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team had shifted "to focus on the possibility that the content of the notebook has been created by other people."

Assistant Commissioners Mick Willing and Ian McCartney will be holding a media conference later today at 12.30pm.

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2 min read
Published 4 December 2018 11:15am
Updated 4 December 2018 5:06pm


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