A man in custody awaiting trial after allegedly threatening Sydney police with a knife in mid-2017 has been charged with terrorism offences.

Blake Pender, 26, was arrested in Surry Hills in mid-June after he allegedly threatened officers.

“The man was stopped very close to police and found to be in possession of a knife,” Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said on Wednesday.

“It is alleged upon his arrest the man made numerous threats about becoming a martyr and wanting to kill police.”

Pender was initially charged with intimidating a police officer, being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, resisting police, carrying a knife in a public place and larceny.

During Pender’s first court appearance in June he reportedly told the magistrate “you will be next” and announced he wanted to blow himself up when released.

After further investigations by the fixated persons unit, Pender on Wednesday was additionally charged with the commonwealth offences of possessing a thing connected with a terrorist act and preparing or planning for a terrorist act.

Pender is due to reappear in court in early February.

