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| Down Under | ||
| Terror cell plotted finance chaos | ||
| 2005-06-23 | ||
| Counter terrorism agencies believe they have foiled an attack on the Melbourne Stock Exchange by a radical Islamic network linked to a covert group which has carried out surveillance on key Sydney sites. The Daily Telegraph has been told Islamic extremists with cells in Melbourne and Sydney carried out reconnaissance missions on the Harbour Bridge and two Sydney oil refineries. While details of the planned Stock Exchange attack are being kept secret by intelligence officials, the revelation comes as ASIO officers - assisted by Victorian and Federal Police - raided at least eight properties in Victoria and NSW this week. They searched homes, seized documents and other material and questioned suspected cell members. Members of Victoria's joint counter-terrorism group established links between the Melbourne and Sydney extremists about 18 months ago. They have had at least a dozen members under physical and electronic surveillance since then. Sources said a senior member of the cell is an associate of jailed Australian terrorist Saleh Jamal. Jamal, 29, fled Australia after the 1998 drive-by shooting of Lakemba police station. He was convicted this year in a Lebanese military court of possessing weapons, forging an Australian passport, and planning acts that endangered security. An intelligence source told The Daily Telegraph: "The Australian group has talked about following Jamal's lead and doing the same thing here." Melbourne cell members were heard discussing where they might find an explosives expert. Victoria Police started watching the Melbourne cell about 18 months ago after a tip-off that an Islamic extremist was recruiting followers at a mosque in inner suburban Melbourne. Victoria's joint counter terrorism group - consisting of Victoria Police, AFP and ASIO officers - then took over the operation and worked closely with its NSW counterpart. Melbourne and Sydney cell members have been observed meeting regularly and attending training camps in Victoria and NSW, where some weapons training took place. The counter-terrorism group has been unable to charge cell members so far because there has been more talk than action. "They are like mercenaries looking for a war," the intelligence source said. "There has been plenty of talk about their motivation to commit a terrorist act, but no specific intent."
ASIO and other law enforcement agencies have being using disruptive techniques in Sydney and Melbourne to try to warn off extremists. A decision was made that, after 18 months of surveillance without getting enough to lay charges, alerting the cells that authorities were on to them made sense.
Prime Minister John Howard, Justice Minister Chris Ellison and AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty have been briefed about the raids. Mr Howard said ASIO and the AFP had his full support for the professional way the raids were carried out. "I think Australians must understand that the Government - through its agencies, ASIO and the AFP - is very vigilant about potential threats," he said. "We should understand they are there, but we should also not be unduly concerned. We have highly professional men and women who are looking after our interests and they deserve our continued 24-hour support." Mr Keelty said it was too early to say what evidence would arise out of the searches. "Any charges will be determined after we look at the evidence as a result of the search warrants and also as a result of interviews that have been taking place," he said. "It's vitally important that we disrupt activity before it gets a chance to take hold." | ||
| Posted by:Steve |