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| Terror Networks |
| Training camp in Australis denied |
| 2002-12-05 |
| VICTORIA Police have denied reports of a terrorist training camp in the state, saying they relate to unsubstantiated allegations. Reports said Islamic extremists linked to Jemaah Islamiyah fired weapons and conducted close-quarter combat training in remote forest outside Melbourne. However police this morning said there was no evidence to support claims of such a camp. "The allegations were made late 1998-99 and were investigated by ASIO with the assistance of local authorities," police deputy media director Kevin Loomes said in the statement. "There was no terrorist activity substantiated or any evidence of a terrorist training camp." Senior UK-based al-Qaeda operative Abu Qatada, accused of being a key influence in the September 11 attacks, allegedly attended the camp as a guest speaker. While Australian law enforcement officers maintain Qatada, who is in custody, was refused entry to Australia in the 1990s, leading Muslims claim otherwise. Sheikh Taj el-Din Al Hilaly, Australia's most prominent Muslim leader maintains Qatada entered the country in the 1990s and engaged in a speaking tour as well. Fehmi Naji El-Imam, Melbourne's Preston Mosque imam, confirmed yesterday that Qatada - also known as Omar Mohammed Othman - spoke to his congregation. Extremist Indonesian political movement, Ahlus Sunnah wal Jammah, which is associated with terror group Laskar Jihad (LJ) was believed to have organised the camps. The close-knit group, known for its secrecy and fundamentalist ideology, is based at the Preston Mosque. The group frequently advertises youth camps. The existence of such camps, or the presence of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jammah could not be ruled out as the mosque had between 500 and 1000 members. Camp attendees came from Algerian, Somali, Lebanese, Palestinian and Philippine backgrounds. Some Philippino members were linked to JI. Members of the Sydney-based extremist group Islamic Youth Movement (IYM), which publishes a pro-terrorist magazine, attended the camps. Attempts to contact the IYM were unsuccessful. Islamic warriors, who fought in Afghanistan or Somalia, were alleged to have led camp training sessions, which involved target practice at distances of up to 200m. |
| Posted by:Paul |