The ABC has obtained Spanish court documents that appear to link two Australian Muslim leaders with Spain’s top Al Qaeda suspect. The Australian Federal Police have confirmed they are aware of communications between the Australians and the Spanish man, Abu Dahdah. Abu Dahdah is being held as Al Qaeda’s top man in Spain and he allegedly met the ringleader of the September 11 attacks, Mohammed Atta. Court documents tendered last year to support Abu Dahdah’s detention on terrorism charges, allege repeated contact between the Spanish suspect and both Melbourne man Sheikh Mohammed Omran, and Sydney man Bilal Khazal.
Bilal Khazal is one of the leaders of the Australian branch of the extremist Islamic Youth Movement. It isn’t the first time he has been connected to Al Qaeda either. Mohammed Omran is a leader of the Sunnah Wal Jamaah, which is a Wahhabi/Salafi organistion. It’s Indonesian branch is connected to the Laskar Jihad
Sheik Omran denies he has had any contact, and Bilal Khazal did not respond to questions from the ABC. Sheik Omran told the ABC "I’ve never heard of that name [Abu Dahdah]". The Australian Federal Police say they know of such communications, and they have revealed they have at least 65 ongoing investigations into people potentially involved in terrorist activity. |