Two men with ISIS ties charged in Australian terror plot

Australian police have charged two men supported by Islamic State (ISIS) with terrorism for trying to place an improvised explosive device on an Etihad Airways flight. Police officials had arrested four men following a tip from intelligence officials on July 29. Officials charged Khaled Khayat, 49, and Mahmoud Khayat, 32, with two counts of planning a terrorist act. Authorities released one of the men without charge while the fourth remains in custody. Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan said the men had tried to place a “military-grade explosive” on an Etihad flight out of Sydney, adding that a senior ISIS member sent the explosive to the men from Turkey via air cargo. “This is one of the most sophisticated plots that has ever been attempted on Australian soil,” Phelan said.