A SYDNEY man (Bilal Khazal)has been charged over terrorism activities on the internet. Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the 34-year-old man, who allegedly published documents inciting terrorism on the internet, was charged with one count of collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts. He was arrested outside his home at Lakemba, in Sydney’s south-west, this morning. The AFP said he was the first person to be charged with the offence since the introduction of Commonwealth counterterrorism legislation in 2002.
The AFP said a number of documents and a computer hard drive were seized during a search of the man’s home today. It is alleged that among the documents was a book called Provisions In The Rules of Jihad - Short Wise Rules and Organisational Instructions Which Is The Concern of Every Fighter and Mujahid Against the Infidels. The man allegedly compiled the book and then posted the material on the internet in late 2003. Its publication was an offence under commonwealth law, the AFP said. The man was due to face Sydney’s Central Local Court later today. His arrest followed a lengthy investigation involving officers from ASIO, NSW Police and the AFP. |