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From http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...212027799.html
From http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...212035016.html
Raids disrupt terrorist attack
By Elisabeth Lopez, Dewi Cooke
November 8, 2005 - 11:20AM
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks believes police have disrupted probably the most serious preparation for a terrorist attack ever in Australia.
Police arrested 17 people in co-ordinated anti-terrorism raids overnight in Melbourne and Sydney. The men, nine from Victoria and eight from NSW, have been charged with a range anti-terrorism offences.
The raids followed reports that a group of men were stockpiling chemicals to carry out a terrorist attack.
A man is believed to have been shot during one of the raids in Sydney's west.
Mr Bracks said the raids, which followed 16 months of surveillance, were made possible by an amendment to anti-terror legislation rushed through Federal parliament last week.
However, a lawyer acting for six people in Sydney described the prosecutions as "political and a great shame on this country".
Eight people in Melbourne have been charged with terrorism-related offences including intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation.
A ninth has been charged with intentionally directing the activities of a terrorist organisation.
The nine men have arrived at Melbourne Magistrates Court, where they are set to face a filing hearing this morning.
Outside the court, an associate of their lawyer, Rob Stary, said the suspects were mainly men in their mid-20s, most of whom were married with children.
The associate said Mr Stary was representing all nine men, most of whom he had acted for previously.
It is believed that two of the men are relatives.
NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said the raids began about 2.30 this morning, and involved police wearing bullet-proof vests, using helicopters and dogs.
An AFP spokeswoman told theage.com.au the raids were a joint operation between Victoria, NSW and federal police.
They related to an ongoing counter-terrorism investigation.
Chemicals stockpiled
NSW Premier Morris Iemma said intelligence was received that a group was making arrangements to gather chemicals and other materials capable of being used to make explosives.
"I've been further advised that police believe the group was planning a terrorist attack in Australia,'' he said.
Mr Bracks was asked if he thought the arrests had disrupted a major terrorist attack in Australia, possibly Melbourne.
"Yes I do," he said, adding the covert study of the group had not ascertained their target or targets.
". . . I congratulate the combined efforts of ASIO and Australian Federal Police . . . to ensure this disruption occurred and these charges will be before the courts."
Mr Bracks was asked if his briefings on the planning over 16 months had made him nervous for the safety of Victorians.
"I know that the Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and ASIO had this matter under control," he said.
He also urged the city's Muslim population to not view the raids as an attack on their community.
"The law is absolutely ignorant of the fact that they might adhere to a certain religion or faith or have certain ethnic characteristics," Mr Bracks said.
Melbourne raids
A Victoria Police spokesman said the Melbourne raids were carried out between 2am and 3am on 12 houses in Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Preston, Hadfield, Coburg, Yarraville and Meadow Heights.
Police arrested eight people in NSW after executing warrants in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, Greenacre, Illawong, Punchbowl, Hoxton Park, Condell Park, Ingleburn, Belfield, Bankstown and Kemps Creek.
Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon said the raids were connected to comments last week by Prime Minister John Howard regarding a "specific" terror threat.
The government recalled the Senate for a special sitting last week to pass one measure which widened the scope for authorities to arrest terrorist suspects.
Commissioner Nixon told ABC radio they had been charged with both state and federal offences, including offences related to membership of a banned organisation.
She said she could not confirm whether explosives or weapons had been seized.
"There were actually 23 search warrants involved in the matter, so it'll take some time for investigators to deal with all of those. We certainly had a range of material seized and grave concerns about the way that these people had been behaving."
"The offences that some of them will be charged with are related to that offence (membership of a prescribed organisation), but again that's a bit more detail that will be gone into later when they appear before the courts."
Asked about Commissioner Moroney's claim the suspects were believed to have been in the final stages of planing an attack on Australian soil, Ms Nixon said: "We certainly had concerns that the way these people were behaving was suspicious, and to us raised great levels of concern, so we believe that they were planning an operation.
"We weren't exactly sure when, nor more importantly, what they planned to damage or do harm to.
'Prosecutions are political'
Mr Stary said he did not know which proscribed organisations the men were suspected of involvement with.
He said he could not confirm whether those detained were connected with a series of counter-terrorism raids in June.
Mr Stary said he was alerted to the raids around 3am, when he was phoned by a client.
Sydney lawyer Adam Houda said he was preparing bail applications for the six people being held at the Sydney police centre.
Speaking from his office, Mr Houda told theage.com.au he had been able to talk with his clients by phone but had not yet seen the list of charges.
"The only thing I'd want to tell you (is) I just question the timing. These prosecutions are political and a great shame on this country," he said
"It's getting from bad to worse."
The raids follow Prime Minister John Howard's announcement last week of a possible terrorist threat believed to involve potential targets in Sydney and Melbourne.
There were reports the threat was linked to a group of Melbourne men who were spotted filming possible targets.
The government recalled the Senate for a special sitting last week to pass one measure which widened the scope for authorities to arrest terrorist suspects.
Labor, the Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens have accused the government of playing politics with national security and trying to scare Australians.
But Mr Howard last night rejected the claims, saying he announced the changes to anti-terror laws because they were in the national interest.
By Elisabeth Lopez, Dewi Cooke
November 8, 2005 - 11:20AM
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks believes police have disrupted probably the most serious preparation for a terrorist attack ever in Australia.
Police arrested 17 people in co-ordinated anti-terrorism raids overnight in Melbourne and Sydney. The men, nine from Victoria and eight from NSW, have been charged with a range anti-terrorism offences.
The raids followed reports that a group of men were stockpiling chemicals to carry out a terrorist attack.
A man is believed to have been shot during one of the raids in Sydney's west.
Mr Bracks said the raids, which followed 16 months of surveillance, were made possible by an amendment to anti-terror legislation rushed through Federal parliament last week.
However, a lawyer acting for six people in Sydney described the prosecutions as "political and a great shame on this country".
Eight people in Melbourne have been charged with terrorism-related offences including intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation.
A ninth has been charged with intentionally directing the activities of a terrorist organisation.
The nine men have arrived at Melbourne Magistrates Court, where they are set to face a filing hearing this morning.
Outside the court, an associate of their lawyer, Rob Stary, said the suspects were mainly men in their mid-20s, most of whom were married with children.
The associate said Mr Stary was representing all nine men, most of whom he had acted for previously.
It is believed that two of the men are relatives.
NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said the raids began about 2.30 this morning, and involved police wearing bullet-proof vests, using helicopters and dogs.
An AFP spokeswoman told theage.com.au the raids were a joint operation between Victoria, NSW and federal police.
They related to an ongoing counter-terrorism investigation.
Chemicals stockpiled
NSW Premier Morris Iemma said intelligence was received that a group was making arrangements to gather chemicals and other materials capable of being used to make explosives.
"I've been further advised that police believe the group was planning a terrorist attack in Australia,'' he said.
Mr Bracks was asked if he thought the arrests had disrupted a major terrorist attack in Australia, possibly Melbourne.
"Yes I do," he said, adding the covert study of the group had not ascertained their target or targets.
". . . I congratulate the combined efforts of ASIO and Australian Federal Police . . . to ensure this disruption occurred and these charges will be before the courts."
Mr Bracks was asked if his briefings on the planning over 16 months had made him nervous for the safety of Victorians.
"I know that the Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and ASIO had this matter under control," he said.
He also urged the city's Muslim population to not view the raids as an attack on their community.
"The law is absolutely ignorant of the fact that they might adhere to a certain religion or faith or have certain ethnic characteristics," Mr Bracks said.
Melbourne raids
A Victoria Police spokesman said the Melbourne raids were carried out between 2am and 3am on 12 houses in Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Preston, Hadfield, Coburg, Yarraville and Meadow Heights.
Police arrested eight people in NSW after executing warrants in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, Greenacre, Illawong, Punchbowl, Hoxton Park, Condell Park, Ingleburn, Belfield, Bankstown and Kemps Creek.
Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon said the raids were connected to comments last week by Prime Minister John Howard regarding a "specific" terror threat.
The government recalled the Senate for a special sitting last week to pass one measure which widened the scope for authorities to arrest terrorist suspects.
Commissioner Nixon told ABC radio they had been charged with both state and federal offences, including offences related to membership of a banned organisation.
She said she could not confirm whether explosives or weapons had been seized.
"There were actually 23 search warrants involved in the matter, so it'll take some time for investigators to deal with all of those. We certainly had a range of material seized and grave concerns about the way that these people had been behaving."
"The offences that some of them will be charged with are related to that offence (membership of a prescribed organisation), but again that's a bit more detail that will be gone into later when they appear before the courts."
Asked about Commissioner Moroney's claim the suspects were believed to have been in the final stages of planing an attack on Australian soil, Ms Nixon said: "We certainly had concerns that the way these people were behaving was suspicious, and to us raised great levels of concern, so we believe that they were planning an operation.
"We weren't exactly sure when, nor more importantly, what they planned to damage or do harm to.
'Prosecutions are political'
Mr Stary said he did not know which proscribed organisations the men were suspected of involvement with.
He said he could not confirm whether those detained were connected with a series of counter-terrorism raids in June.
Mr Stary said he was alerted to the raids around 3am, when he was phoned by a client.
Sydney lawyer Adam Houda said he was preparing bail applications for the six people being held at the Sydney police centre.
Speaking from his office, Mr Houda told theage.com.au he had been able to talk with his clients by phone but had not yet seen the list of charges.
"The only thing I'd want to tell you (is) I just question the timing. These prosecutions are political and a great shame on this country," he said
"It's getting from bad to worse."
The raids follow Prime Minister John Howard's announcement last week of a possible terrorist threat believed to involve potential targets in Sydney and Melbourne.
There were reports the threat was linked to a group of Melbourne men who were spotted filming possible targets.
The government recalled the Senate for a special sitting last week to pass one measure which widened the scope for authorities to arrest terrorist suspects.
Labor, the Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens have accused the government of playing politics with national security and trying to scare Australians.
But Mr Howard last night rejected the claims, saying he announced the changes to anti-terror laws because they were in the national interest.
Abu Bakr detained in raids
Muslim cleric Abu Bakr is one of the 15 people detained after overnight counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and Melbourne, his lawyer has confirmed.
Rob Stary, who is acting for all nine, told ABC radio that his clients had only been and would only be charged with membership of a prescribed organisation.
He said no further charges were pending, despite NSW police commissioner Ken Moroney's remarks this morning that the 15 people arrested here and in Sydney were connected with a terrorist plot on Australian soil.
"Perhaps those allegations will be made in court by the prosecution, but . . . they're not reflected in the charges that they face. They're not reflected in the interviews that were conducted with them."
Mr Stary said he was "reasonably confident" that Federal Government changes to anti-terror legislation rushed through parliament last week had no bearing on the charges.
He said police did not uncover weapons, chemicals or any other materials that could have been used in a possible attack.
"They've been subjected to surveillance over a long period of time. It doesn't appear that they will be charged with any other offences."
He said some of the nine would apply for bail, which Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said earlier this morning bail would be opposed.
Some had refused questioning on legal advice, while others had provided particulars.
Mr Stary said he had been allowed access to his clients this morning, after this was denied earlier.
Asked if his clients had been treated properly during the raids and their subsequent detention, Mr Stary said: "I wouldn't want to make a comment on that at the current time."
He said he could not confirm if the charges related to membership of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, as the group had not been specified on the charge sheet.
Asked if they denied involvement in a terrorist plot, Mr Stary said:
"The allegation's never been put to them . . . the question has been confined to whether they've been members of a particular organisation."
Abu Bakr, also known as Abdul Nacer Benbrika, made headlines in August when he stated publicly his support for al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
At the time, he denied being involved in any terrorist activities but told ABC Radio he was a supporter of Osama bin Laden.
"Osama bin Laden, he is a great man," he said.
"Osama bin Laden was a great man before 11 September, which they said he did it, until now nobody knows who did it."
Bakr defended Muslims fighting against coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and said anyone who fought in the name of Allah would be forgiven their sins.
He also said Muslims faced a problem in Australia as to whether to obey Australian or Islamic laws.
"There are two laws, there is Australian law, there is Islamic law," Bakr said.
On other religions, he said: "I am not only against the Jew. I am against anyone who try to harm my religion."
At the time, Prime Minister John Howard rejected Bakr's statements, labelling them unfair and damaging to Australian Muslims who believed religions should be respected and everyone should live in tolerance and harmony.
Bakr is a dual Algerian and Australian citizen who has lived in Melbourne's northern suburbs since 1989.
Muslim cleric Abu Bakr is one of the 15 people detained after overnight counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and Melbourne, his lawyer has confirmed.
Rob Stary, who is acting for all nine, told ABC radio that his clients had only been and would only be charged with membership of a prescribed organisation.
He said no further charges were pending, despite NSW police commissioner Ken Moroney's remarks this morning that the 15 people arrested here and in Sydney were connected with a terrorist plot on Australian soil.
"Perhaps those allegations will be made in court by the prosecution, but . . . they're not reflected in the charges that they face. They're not reflected in the interviews that were conducted with them."
Mr Stary said he was "reasonably confident" that Federal Government changes to anti-terror legislation rushed through parliament last week had no bearing on the charges.
He said police did not uncover weapons, chemicals or any other materials that could have been used in a possible attack.
"They've been subjected to surveillance over a long period of time. It doesn't appear that they will be charged with any other offences."
He said some of the nine would apply for bail, which Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said earlier this morning bail would be opposed.
Some had refused questioning on legal advice, while others had provided particulars.
Mr Stary said he had been allowed access to his clients this morning, after this was denied earlier.
Asked if his clients had been treated properly during the raids and their subsequent detention, Mr Stary said: "I wouldn't want to make a comment on that at the current time."
He said he could not confirm if the charges related to membership of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, as the group had not been specified on the charge sheet.
Asked if they denied involvement in a terrorist plot, Mr Stary said:
"The allegation's never been put to them . . . the question has been confined to whether they've been members of a particular organisation."
Abu Bakr, also known as Abdul Nacer Benbrika, made headlines in August when he stated publicly his support for al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
At the time, he denied being involved in any terrorist activities but told ABC Radio he was a supporter of Osama bin Laden.
"Osama bin Laden, he is a great man," he said.
"Osama bin Laden was a great man before 11 September, which they said he did it, until now nobody knows who did it."
Bakr defended Muslims fighting against coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and said anyone who fought in the name of Allah would be forgiven their sins.
He also said Muslims faced a problem in Australia as to whether to obey Australian or Islamic laws.
"There are two laws, there is Australian law, there is Islamic law," Bakr said.
On other religions, he said: "I am not only against the Jew. I am against anyone who try to harm my religion."
At the time, Prime Minister John Howard rejected Bakr's statements, labelling them unfair and damaging to Australian Muslims who believed religions should be respected and everyone should live in tolerance and harmony.
Bakr is a dual Algerian and Australian citizen who has lived in Melbourne's northern suburbs since 1989.
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