Brother of Australia test cricketer Usman Khawaja arrested over terror hit-list
- Arsalan Khawaja arrested on Tuesday morning after being pulled over while driving in western Sydney
The brother of Australia test cricketer Usman Khawaja has been taken into custody by counter-terrorism police investigating the discovery in August of a laptop computer containing a purported terrorist hit-list.
Arsalan Khawaja, 39, was arrested on Tuesday morning after being pulled over while driving in western Sydney, according to a spokesperson for New South Wales state police.
Australian media, quoting police sources, said Arsalan Khawaja was being questioned about forgery and an attempt to pervert justice.
The police operation on Tuesday stems from the discovery in an office at the University of New South Wales of a laptop which contained an alleged hit-list naming former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and his deputy Julie Bishop.
The device also reportedly contained blueprints for attacks on train stations and landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported police were not alleging Arsalan Khawaja intended to carry out terrorist attacks but that he tampered with the laptop to frame a colleague, 25-year-old PhD student Mohamed Nizamdeen.