( CNN ) -- Australian police arrested a 23-year-old man in Melbourne on Tuesday on suspicion of funding a U.S. citizen who went to fight in Syria . The Australian investigation was sparked by a tip-off from the FBI earlier this year , a police statement said . The man , who has not been named , is accused of providing about $ 12,000 to what he knew to be a terrorist organization . His arrest , in a joint operation by the Australian Federal Police and Melbourne Joint Counter Terrorism Team , came after searches at seven addresses in Melbourne suburbs . Police said there was no known link to an incident last week in which a teenage terror suspect , Numan Haider , was shot dead outside a police station in Endeavour Hills , Melbourne , after he stabbed two police officers . There was also no intelligence to suggest that the man arrested Tuesday in the Seabrook suburb was involved in planning a terror attack or that there was any risk to the community , police said . National Manager Counter Terrorism Neil Gaughan , of the Australian Federal Police , said the operation showed law enforcement was actively investigating all aspects of terrorism . `` We are acutely aware that to participate in overseas fighting , funds are required . In this case we will allege that the man was funding someone from the US . However who is being funded makes no difference , '' Gaughan said . `` Providing funding is equally criminal as actually traveling to participate and we will use all our resources to cut off the supply of funds to terrorists . '' The suspect was due to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday . Australian PM : Public execution terror plot foiled . Terror threat level . Last week , the government introduced a new bill in parliament to imprison Australians found to be fighting abroad , or supporting terrorist actions . Formally called the `` Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment ( Foreign Fighters ) Bill , the legislation includes new offenses for visiting countries on a no-go list issued by the government , without good reason . Civil liberty advocates have criticized the speed at which the new legislation has been introduced , calling for the Australian public and members of parliament to be given more time -- two months -- to have their say on the bill . On September 12 , Australia lifted its terror threat level from `` medium '' to `` high , '' although at the time Prime Minister Tony Abbott said no specific threats had been made . A reading of `` high '' means a terrorist attack is considered `` likely . '' Days later , more than 800 officers raided 15 homes and businesses across Sydney after investigations suggested suspects were planning `` a random attack on individuals , '' police said in a statement . Authorities claimed to have foiled plans to kidnap a member of the public , behead the victim and drape the body in an ISIS flag . Lone wolf ? Australian police shoot dead teen 'terror suspect ' Home-grown terrorism fears . Authorities believe around 60 Australians are fighting in the conflict in Syria and Iraq , with around 100 more working in support roles within Australia . Officials have in the past expressed fears about `` home-grown terrorism , '' the likelihood that Australians recruited to fight foreign wars could bring their training and philosophies home to carry out local attacks . It 's believed that about 20 fighters have already returned to Australia . Australia is backing the U.S.-led campaign of airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq with personnel and aircraft . CNN 's Hilary Whiteman and Joseph Netto contributed to this report .
The 23-year-old suspect is accused of funding a U.S. man who went to fight in Syria . Australian police say they investigated after a tip-off from the FBI . The suspect is accused of providing about $ 12,000 to a terror organization . Police : No known link to an incident in which a teenage terror suspect was shot dead .