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Possible Terrorist Attack Stopped in Oz


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Raids 'foiled terror attack'

 

November 08, 2005

POLICE shot and wounded a suspect who opened fire on officers during raids in two states which authorities say prevented a major terrorist attack in Australia.

 

The man shot by police in the Sydney suburb of Green Valley was one of 16 people arrested in raids which the New South Wales and Victorian governments say may have prevented a "catastrophic" terrorist act. Nine people were arrested in Melbourne and seven in Sydney, police said.

 

Fearing an imminent terrorist threat, hundreds of ASIO, Australian Federal Police and state police officers swooped simultaneously on homes in the two cities from 2.30am (AEDT).

 

About 9am (AEDT), police said they followed a man near a mosque in western Sydney who opened fire on officers, shooting twice before he was wounded in the neck by return fire.

 

A police officer suffered minor injuries when hit in the hand during the shooting. The wounded suspect was in a satisfactory condition in hospital.

 

A bag carried by the man was inspected by a bomb squad robot which found a handgun, police said.

 

Prime Minister John Howard said recently passed anti-terrorism laws had played a part in today's arrests, and praised states for backing the laws.

 

Authorities said the raids had foiled a terror attack.

 

"I'm satisfied that we have disrupted what I would regard as the final stages of a large scale terrorist attack ... here in Australia," said NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney.

 

"Thankfully the police forces of this country might just have prevented a catastrophic act of terrorism in this country," added NSW Police Minister Carl Scully.

 

The raids were the culmination of a 16-month surveillance operation and the suspects in Melbourne and Sydney were alleged to be working together, police said.

 

Authorities were investigating possible links between those arrested and networks overseas.

 

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks said he believed police had disrupted "probably the most serious preparation for a terrorist attack that we have seen in Australia".

 

NSW Premier Morris Iemma said it was alleged the group in Sydney was stockpiling chemicals capable of making explosives and that they were believed to be planning a terrorist attack in Australia.

 

Substances believed to be chemicals were seized in Sydney, police said, while computers seized in Melbourne also would be examined.

 

Those arrested were appearing in court in Melbourne and Sydney today, on federal and state charges.

 

Late this morning a Melbourne court was told nine men arrested in Melbourne had formed a terrorist group involved in military training.

 

"Each of the members of the group are committed to the cause of violent jihad," said prosecutor Richard Maidment.

 

Australian Federal Police said the 16 had been, or would be, charged with a range of offences including acts in preparation of a terrorist act, being a member of a terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.

 

One man also had been charged with directing a terrorist organisation, he said.

 

Police said they had not identified any specific targets.

 

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon ruled out any link to next year's Commonwealth Games.

 

But she said the raids were directly related to Prime Minister John Howard's announcement last week of a possible terrorist threat believed to involve potential Australian targets.

 

And she said recent government amendments had helped the operation.

 

"That was one of the significant points about the amendment, as the previous legislation required us to have a particular location," she said.

 

"We are certainly of the belief that there was the potential for great harm to be done to the community and it was related from a terrorist base, so we think that we have thwarted that," Mrs Nixon said.

 

Mr Bracks said the raids would not have been possible without the new federal laws.

 

However, senior police said while last week's federal amendments to anti-terrorism legislation had been a help, the raids would have taken place anyway.

 

Police arrested seven people in NSW after executing warrants in Lakemba, Belmore, Wiley Park, Greenacre, Illawong, Punchbowl, Hoxton Park, Condell Park, Ingleburn, Belfield, Bankstown and Kemps Creek.

 

At least five of those arrested in Sydney were Australian citizens.

 

The nine from Victoria were arrested during raids in Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Preston, Coburg, Yarraville, Meadow Heights and Hadfield.

 

One of the nine arrested in Melbourne was the outspoken Melbourne Muslim cleric Abu Bakr (Bakr), also known as Abdul Nacer Benbrika, said his lawyer Rob Stary.

 

Mr Stary said the nine men had been charged with being members of a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism legislation.

 

"They are not charged with being involved in the planning or preparation (of a terrorist act) ... they are charged with a membership offence only," he said.

 

Nor had any materials been seized in Melbourne that indicated the nine were about to launch a terrorist strike, Mr Stary said.

 

Mr Stary said some of those arrested in Melbourne had been targeted by ASIO raids in June.

 

Mr Moroney drew comparisons with anti-terrorism operations in London and Madrid, which he said took place after attacks took place.

 

Police in Australia had taken pre-emptive action, he said.

 

"We were not prepared to wait for an event to happen." Mr Moroney said.

 

Prime Minister John Howard last week announced there was a potential terrorist threat, saying he had received intelligence indicating an attack on Australia was possible.

 

The threat was believed to involve people in Melbourne and Sydney, and an urgent amendment to existing anti-terrorism laws which gave police greater powers to arrest terrorist suspects was rushed through parliament as a result.

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I like how all they talk about was how one of the guys had a handgun. no talk of explosives, more weapons, plans to destroy something, or kill a large amount of people. Its a good thing that they caught these people, but i'm interested to know more details.

 

edit: apparently there aren't really more details. they just bagged the people for being affiliated with the terrorist group.

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Originally posted by Cheggit@Nov 9 2005, 03:42 AM

You should of seen the "suspected terrorist's" friends mang. They went pritty mental and brought Jihad all over the camera men and news reporters. Pritty much K.O'd one news reporter.

 

 

Yeah they were dirty dogs.

 

They found explosive materials at some locations

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