After scouting out sites, Fairfax Media understands he was moving towards identifying the Parramatta courts as his most likely target. Tamim Khaja (centre) was arrested by counter-terrorism police. Details in a police charge sheet reveal that Mr Khaja's preparations or planning occurred over the seven-day period to May 17, the day he was arrested. Despite the seriousness of the offences facing Mr Khaja, a string of friends, colleagues and former schoolmates have come to his defence, describing him as a kind-hearted and peaceful boy who may have been easily influenced. He was a regular gym-goer, was studying at university and held down a part-time job at Parramatta Westfield clothing store.

He was well-liked at Epping Boys High despite an investigation last year, when he was in year 12, following claims made by a parent that he was preaching extremism in the playground. The home of accused terror suspect Tamim Khaja in Macquarie Park. Credit:Daniel Munoz "He was just a very soft-hearted guy, there was no assertiveness in his voice," said Mustafa Genc, 30, who trained at a Ryde gym with Mr Khaja. "When he started learning about religion, it changed his life. He started to act in a very religious way, he grew a beard, he wasn't into clubbing or anything. But when we spoke about religion, he was never extreme." A former Epping Boys High School employee, who asked not to be identified, said the school was worried about Mr Khaja "being influenced by outside people" in his later years.

"[But] Tamim was always so polite and good-mannered. He seemed more like the type of kid to stand up for and protect other people," she said. However another student said he started to get in a lot of fights in his final years of school and would openly talk about Islamic State. Mr Khaja has also been charged with a foreign incursion offence after he was stopped at Sydney Airport on February 27, allegedly attempting to fly to Syria to join Islamic State. His passport was cancelled, prompting him to turn his attention to a homegrown attack, police allege. Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said they arrested Mr Khaja on Tuesday and raided his family's Macquarie Park home because they believed an attack was "imminent".

Loading At his first court mention on Wednesday, Mr Khaja declined to appear by audiovisual link and his lawyer Osman Samin asked for the matter to be adjourned to June 8. "As with all cases applicable is the presumption of innocence, I seek to proceed along those lines and I urge the public to do as well," he said outside court.