Australian schoolgirl 'wanted to send thousands to IS'

A 16-year-old schoolgirl arrested for allegedly planning to send AU$5,000 (US$3,760) to Islamic State militants was denied bail on Thursday.

The teenager, who cannot be named due to her age, was charged with one count of obtaining funds for a terrorist organisation, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, according to Australian law.

Magistrate Paula Russell said the case against the girl "appears to be a strong one" as she refused the bail request, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

"I am not of a view that the prosecution case is a weak one... on the contrary, it appears to be a strong one," she told the court.

"I have not been satisfied exceptional circumstances exist... In that case bail is refused."

The Australian was arrested last week when an undercover officer posing as a 'young extremist' caught her accepting AU$5,000 in cash from 20-year-old Milad Atai, which she then intended to send to a relative from the militant group.

The two friends were arrested on terrorism charges when armed officers intercepted the exchange at their local park following an extensive operation lasting several months.