A SCHOOL teacher charged with terrorism offences declared his innocence during a Brisbane court appearance today. John Howard Amundsen, 40, of Aspley in Brisbane's north, is charged with using false documents to obtain explosives, preparing to commit an act of terrorism and using telecommunications to make a threat and a hoax threat.
Police today also charged Mr Amundsen with two new offences; possessing a foreign passport without reasonable excuse and making counterfeit money or counterfeit securities. It is alleged Mr Amundsen was found with 53kg of explosives when they raided his home last month.
Mr Amundsen today faced Brisbane Magistrates' Court and said he was innocent of the terrorism-related charges and that his actions were directed at his girlfriend's parents. "Ladies and gentlemen this was not an act of terrorism," the manual arts teacher and former journalist said.
"It was a media photo opportunity designed to highlight my girlfriend's (plight,) who is being terrorised by her parents for 11 years.
"It was just performance art!" | "Our home was taken from us and she was terrorised for 11 years. This was not an act of terrorism."
Mr Amundsen was remanded in custody to reappear on August 18 for a committal mention. |