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| Down Under |
| Aussie MP calls for action after chemical stockpiles found |
| 2005-11-08 |
| The seizure of chemicals in today's counter-terrorism raids highlights a dangerous lack of police information on people buying materials that could be used in an attack, a Government MP says. Jason Wood, who was a counter-terrorism police officer before entering Federal Parliament last year, has called for national data collection of the "terrorist's chemical of choice", ammonium nitrate fertiliser, and other chemicals. He says police have no way of knowing whether a terror suspect has bought explosives or bomb-making ingredients interstate, because each state police force has a separate database. "Not one police force in the country would be able to tell you who has a licence to possess explosives," he told theage.com.au. Mr Wood said he met privately with the Prime Minister last month to discuss expanding the Crimtrack database, which includes records of fingerprints and DNA. It is currently used to track sex offenders, and will soon include missing persons data. "The Government recognises the need to co-ordinate all this. It's just working out how to do it," he said. Mr Wood, who served as a senior sergeant with the Victoria Police counter-terrorism co-ordination unit, said al-Qaeda stockpiled legal chemicals for a thwarted attack planned to coincide with the September 11 attacks. "They stockpiled 20 kilograms of chemicals, enough to kill 80,000 people. "Terrorists use legitimate means to mount attacks, so they don't get detected through the planning phase. "The precursor chemicals for terrorist attacks are often the same chemicals used to make illicit drugs". "You have the crazy situation in Victoria in which anyone who has a licence to possess explosives is not on the database." "A person purchases chemicals from NSW with a licence, they export them down to Victoria, the Victorian coppers look at this guy, they do a check, they wouldn't have a clue that he's been purchasing chemicals." Mr Wood has called for Crimtrack to be expanded to register people who have licences to buy: ammonium nitrate explosives, and high-consequence dangerous goods (chemicals used in the mining industry, or precursor chemicals like those used in the Tokyo sarin nerve gas attack in 1995). |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 He says police have no way of knowing whether a terror suspect has bought explosives or bomb-making ingredients interstate, because each state police force has a separate database. Where have we heard this before? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-11-08 09:54 |