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| Down Under |
| Hard boyz trained in the Australian Outback |
| 2005-11-09 |
| A Melbourne court heard yesterday that 17 of the suspected terrorists arrested in an early morning raid had engaged in military-like training in rural Australia and that one man had expressed a desire to become a âmartyrâ in Australia. Australian police arrested 17 people yesterday, including a Muslim cleric and a man they said wanted to become a suicide bomber, on charges of planning terrorist attacks as part of a âviolent jihad in Australiaâ. The Melbourne court heard that police had 240 hours of telephone intercepts and recordings of the group. Police detective Chris Murray told the court that one man had âasked permission to become a martyr in Australia, he wanted to die hereâ. Murray said the man had been told to wait, but was impatient. He had said he wanted to âgo in a similar way to a suicide bomberâ. One of the arrested men was in a critical condition in hospital after being shot by police when he opened fire during raids in Sydney and Melbourne. Police seized chemicals, firearms, computers, backpacks and travel documents in the raids. The group did not have a target, but it was trying to buy chemicals similar to those used in the London bombings in July for a âcatastrophicâ attack, police said. âI am satisfied that we have disrupted what I would regard as the final stages of a terrorist attack or the launch of a terrorist attack in Australia,â said New South Wales state police commissioner Ken Moroney. During the court appearance, police said Muslim cleric Abu Bakr, who called al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden a âgreat manâ, was the spiritual leader of the group. The court was told the men had stolen cars to raise funds to buy firearms and chemicals. The Sydney group had tried to buy chemicals used in the London transport bombings and the Melbourne group had ordered chemical handling equipment. More than 450 police raided houses in Sydney and Melbourne as part of the countryâs largest ever counterterrorism operation involving hundreds of police, following a 16-month investigation. Police said eight people were arrested in Sydney and nine in Melbourne. Those arrested were charged with offences including acts in preparation of a terrorist attack, being a member of a terrorist group and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. Prime Minister John Howard said last week Australia had received intelligence about a âterrorist threatâ, and amended antiterror laws making it easier for police to arrest suspects. Police said the new laws aided the counter terrorism operation. Victorian state Police Commissioner Christine Nixon told reporters the group did not have a target and specifically ruled out the Commonwealth Games, which are due to be held in Melbourne in March. Australian media last week said that possible targets under police watch were the Sydney Opera House, the harbour bridge, oil refineries and stock exchange. Four Australians are awaiting trial in Sydney and Melbourne on terrorism charges, linked to supporting and training with banned groups, such as al-Qaeda. The Australia Security Intelligence Organisation said last week for the first time that Australia had home-grown extremists, some of whom had trained overseas. Muslims make up 1,5% of Australiaâs population of 20-million. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 Get 'em Sundown. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-11-09 16:48 |
| #3 Actually there are 5 million firearms in australia of which 2,5mil are registered. Firearms arnt the issue here, the issue is we have very good federal police and a prime minister who is prepared to make a stand |
| Posted by: Sundown 2005-11-09 14:58 |
| #2 In a "New York" minute... pls excuse the expression. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-11-09 12:06 |
| #1 The gun grabbers disarmed the populace a few years ago in England and Australia. There are those such as the Hildebeast (Hillary) and Charles Schumer that would do the same in the U.S. Criminals and terrorists would be the only ones armed if these idiots had their way. |
| Posted by: Omump Ebbuth4041 2005-11-09 12:00 |