Sydney man charged with terrorism after 'Isis inspired attack' in park

Ihsas Khan has been charged with committing a terrorist act and attempted murder following the attack on Wayne Greenhalgh

New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said they believe terrorism was the motive for the attack as the suspect and his victim did not know each other (EPA)

An Australian man has been charged with terrorism offences after allegedly stabbing a man in a Sydney park in what police say was an Isis inspired attack.

Ihsas Khan has been charged with committing a terrorist act and attempted murder after allegedly stabbing Wayne Greenhalgh repeatedly as he walked through a park in the suburban Minto district of the city on Saturday afternoon.

The 59-year-old remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Khan also attempted to stab a police officer before he was arrested, police said.

The 22-year-old appeared at Parramatta Bail Court where he was refused bail.

He did not enter a plea and the case was adjourned until Wednesday. He faces life behind bars if convicted.

New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said Khan and Mr Greenhalgh did not know each and said the attack was deliberate.

She said: "This was clearly a very volatile, a very violent situation that police and the members of the community were confronted with.

"We know that this person has strong religious beliefs inspired by Isis. What made him act yesterday we don't know.

"This is the new face of terrorism. This is the new face of what we deal with".

She said Khan had shouted some words at the scene that made them suspect he was connected to the terror group.

Mr Greenhalgh’s wife Bronwyn, who witnessed the attack, said her husband had suffered a punctured lung and lost several fingers.

She told Australian news channel Ten Network: "He just came toward him and got a machete out of his backpack and started going at Wayne".

Commenting on the case, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull noted that the attack occurred the day before the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

He told reporters: "Connecting them both is a violent Islamist ideology".

It came after an 18-year-old was arrested outside the Sydney Opera House after allegedly telling security guards Isis had told him to carry out an attack there.

Counter-terrorism investigators charged the teenager with threatening to destroy property. Police said he was was carrying two canisters of automotive fluid.

Additional reporting by AP