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| Down Under |
| 'They planned to kill civilians' |
| 2005-11-07 |
| TERROR suspects held in today's massive police operation today formed a group to wage "holy war" against Australians, a court has heard. The first of the suspects have appeared in a Melbourne court today, with police alleging their aim was "to kill innocent men and women in Australia". The nine include include Osama Bin Laden supporter and radical Islamic cleric, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr. (Related story More: Abu Bakr) Benbrika has been named in court as the alleged leader of the group. In total, 16 people were arrested in today's raids in Melbourne and Sydney, now believed to have involved some 500 police, combining Australian Federal Police with state forces in New South Wales and Victoria. Government and police officials have the group was stockpiling chemicals that could have been used to make explosives. It has been claimed the group may have been plotting a terrorist spectacular on the scale of the al-Qaeda attacks on London and Madrid. (Related story More: Chemical 'threat') NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said the group's plans, if successful, would have been "catastrophic". Authorities have not yet identified any specific targets the suspects were planning to attack. In a dramatic day of police activity, officers also shot and wounded a suspected terrorist who allegedly fled and fired them and disobeyed an order to stop on a Sydney street this morning. The man had been under surveillance by counter-terrorist police and was carrying a backpack when ordered to stop by officers. He is currently in a Sydney hospital in a serious but stable condition. (Related story Full story) The first details of the charges against the 16 terror suspects were outlined in a Melbourne court today. Victorian police had more than 240 hours of phone intercepts in which the group discussed plans to kill Australian civilians, the court heard. Some of the group had attended military training, and they had a pooled fund of money to finance alleged plots, the court heard. Benbrika was the co-ordinator and spiritual leader of the group, prosecutor Richard Maidment QC said. "It is alleged that all of the persons who have been before the court this morning along with another not presently in custody constitutes a terrorist organisation," Mr Maidment said. "That organisation is directed by the defendant Benbrika. "Each of the members of the group are committed to the cause of violent jihad," he said. The arrests come just days after the Federal Government rushed changes to anti-terrorist legislation through Parliament. Prime Minister John Howard warned the changes were necessary because "specific intelligence and police information" indicated a group was close to carrying out a terrorist spectacular on Australian soil. The Sydney raids targeted homes in south western suburbs including Wiley Park, while homes in Melbourne's suburbs of Brunswick, Coburg and Broadmeadows were raided. Police would oppose bail for the suspects when they faced court later today, Mr Moroney said. "They're currently being interviewed by police and my expectation is that those persons variously will appear in Sydney courts this morning," he said. In Melbourne, lawyer Rob Stary said he would be acting for people charged in the city's northern suburbs. The charges mainly involved membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation, he said. "I assume it's one of the Islamist organisations that have been proscribed (by the Federal Government)," Mr Stary said. Victorian Premier Steve Bracks said documents and computer hard drives had been seized and that in Sydney some chemicals had been seized. Searches are continuing at addresses in the two cities. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #6 Does seem a bit redundant, but a gentle reminder to the good citizens explaining just what the muzzies were up to was probably wise. Many here in the States seem to forget all too quickly and concentrate on blaming our leadership for the hard times. This terrorism thing has been going on for decades, it's not just a Reagan, Clinton, or Bush thing. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-11-07 22:33 |
| #5 ..with police alleging their aim was "to kill innocent men and women in Australia". Well, duhh. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-11-07 22:26 |
| #4 "I assume it's one of the Islamist organisations that have been proscribed (by the Federal Government)," Mr Stary said. No worries, any ole muzzie group will do. Excellent work Commissioner Moroney, (leave to a good Irish cop to round em up). |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-11-07 21:37 |
| #3 excellent, Aussies! Methinks someone's been listening to Abu Bakr's missives? Never give orders by cell phone, asshole, LOL |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-11-07 21:27 |
| #2 |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-11-07 21:26 |
| #1 Australian: IMHO, more investment in social programs for the peaceful intergration of Muslim inmmigrants. #1 introductory course: Kevorkian therpy. #2 null. #3 etc. |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-11-07 21:22 |