| Oz courts currently hearing evidence on past terror plots... |
In late December 2003, police had been monitoring the movements of a group of Islamic men, including known militant Saleh Jamal, believed to be targeting two sites, Pier One Wharf near the Harbour Bridge and the Shell oil terminal at Gore Cove. In the days before the New Year's festivities, telephone taps and listening devices were authorised by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock to snoop on the suspects' conversations. Surveillance officers monitored their movements. The group was linked to the Haldon Street prayer room at Lakemba in Sydney's Islamic heartland. On New Year's Eve, Sydney man Saleh Jamal, now jailed in Lebanon on terrorism charges, took to the harbour with several friends in a small boat. They repeatedly cruised past Pier One and the refinery. Operations centres at ASIO, Australian Federal Police headquarters and the Sydney Police Centre were fully staffed by the nation's most senior counter-terrorism officials. State and federal government ministers were briefed. Four months later, Jamal was arrested in Lebanon and charged with preparing terrorist acts along with three other men. |