Man caught at Sydney airport ‘trying to join ISIS in Syria’

A 22-year-old man who caught a taxi to Sydney airport today, allegedly intending to fly to Syria to fight for Islamic State, is facing life in prison, police said.

Moudasser Taleb, of Panania, was arrested an the international airport about 10am and taken to Botany Police Station, where he is being questioned.

Deputy NSW Police Commissioner David Hudson said police will allege Mr Taleb would likely be charged today and appear before Central Local Court.

"We will be alleging that through online communication he was radicalised and then made the decision to travel overseas and fight with Islamic State," Mr Hudson said.

Mr Taleb, who is Australian-born of Middle Eastern heritage, had planned to buy his ticket at the airport.

"He hadn’t actually purchased a ticket at the time of his arrest this morning," Mr Hudson said.

Police released an image of Mr Taleb, cuffed, wearing a beanie, jumper and tracksuit being led away by plain-clothed police at the airport this morning.

The state’s Joint Counter Terrorism Task Force had been investigating Mr Taleb since January this year.

"We believe that he was acting alone in this particular act and was radicalised by himself," Mr Hudson said.

"We are in the process of continuing investigations and there are certain covert activities taking place as we speak."

He said there was no immediate public threat as a result of today’s arrest.

Mr Taleb allegedly bought a number of provisions to take with him to Syria and began selling his belongings on Facebook.

Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Ian McCartney stressed the charge Mr Taleb would likely face later today was serious.

"The federal government has recognised that and increased the penalty to life in prison," Mr McCartney said.

He said police had stopped a number of Australians leaving the country this year in similar circumstances.

Parts of Syria were declared off-limits by the federal government in December 2014, making it a serious Commonwealth offence to enter the country which is enduring a crippling civil war.

Mr Taleb was netted by an ongoing investigation by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism team -- which includes NSW Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.