AT least three Australians with suspected links to al-Qaeda are facing terrorist charges after being arrested in Yemen for alleged arms smuggling.A foreign affairs department spokesman in Canberra confirmed reports from Yemen that Australian passport-holders were among eight foreigners arrested in Yemen. But the spokesman said it was understood there were three Australians, not four as reported from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
A senior Yemeni Interior Ministry official said that Yemeni forces had arrested eight foreigners for allegedly smuggling weapons to Somalia from Yemen. He said four held Australian passports and one was a Danish national, but gave no details on the three others. “The eight foreigners were arrested because they smuggled weapons to Somalia from Yemen,” the official. “Preliminary investigations indicate that they are members of al-Qaeda.”
| Four Australians smuggling guns from Yemen to Somalia. I'm betting their names aren't James, Peter, Roger and Jake. |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Scott Bolitho said in Canberra that the department had been advised of arrests by Yemeni authorities. “They have confirmed that they have arrested three Australians,” Mr Bolitho said. “At this stage they have not provided any further information.
“With assistance from the British Commission in Yemen, consular officials from our embassy in Riyadh are seeking access to those detained.”
Mr Bolitho said DFAT was aware of reports that the arrested Australians face terrorist charges, including smuggling weapons to Somalia.
Last month, Yemen said it had broken up an al-Qaeda linked cell that was behind foiled attacks on oil and gas installations.