Two men arrested in western Sydney over plot to 'behead a member of the public'

Two men have been arrested in western Sydney over an apparent plot to behead a member of the public.

Police made the arrests in Bankstown and Merrylands as part of Operation Appleby.

Police will hold a press conference about the arrests at 9.30 this morning.

BREAKING: @NSWPolice arrest 2 men in Bankstown and Merrylands over Op. Appleby plot to behead a member of the public @Y7News @sunriseon7 — Robert Ovadia (@RobertOvadia) December 22, 2015

Today's arrests come after five people were arrested in raids on December 10 in which five people - including a 15-year-old boy - were arrested over an alleged plot to attack a member of the public.

Police said that plot "may have involved an attack on a government building, whether that be AFP or police".

Operation Appleby is tasked with investigating suspects of domestic terrorism, people suspected funding terrorist organisations and foreign incursions into Syria and Iraq.

More to come.