The New South Wales (NSW) Joint Counter Terrorism Team has charged two men with links to terrorist groups in Syria as part of ongoing inquiries into the activities of people attempting to participate in conflicts in the Middle East, Sputnik quoted the Australian Federal Police as saying on Thursday.

According to the statement, a 17-year-old teen has been charged with attempts "to travel to the conflict region, but was not successful in doing so." The police believe the teen "played an active role in encouraging another person to attempt travel to the region."

Another arrested man, 24, is suspected to have traveled to Syria in 2013 to join Jabhat Fatah al Sham, previously known as al-Nusra Front, terrorist group. 

"It will be alleged in court that this man traveled to Syria in July 2013 to join the group then-known as Jabhat al-Nusra, before returning to Australia in February 2014… The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years imprisonment," the statement reads.

Source: MENA