Mohammad Kamer Nilar Nizamdeen, a Sri Lankan man employed by a Sydney university has been charged over a document that police allege contained plans for terrorism attacks.
The 25-year-old was arrested by members of the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team at the University of NSW in Kensington on Thursday afternoon.
Police allegedly found a notebook that named a number of locations and individuals that are "potential targets".
"They are symbolic locations within Sydney," Detective Superintendent Michael McTiernan told reporters on Friday.
"We have both psychologists and investigators looking at that document to try to interpret the intent and capability, but that is in essence the offence that is before the court."
The notebook was handed to police yesterday sparking an investigation.
The man, who is in Australia on a student visa, is believed to be affiliated with Islamic State, Det Supt McTiernan said.
He was employed as a contractor at the University of NSW and has allegedly travelled back to Sri Lanka and "other areas".
The man was not known to police and does not have any criminal history in Australia, police said.
Authorities insist there was no ongoing threat to the community following the arrest.
The man was refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Friday.
