So it wasn't the Southern Baptists after all!
Suspects planned jihad, court told
The Australian ^ | 8 Nov 05
Suspects planned jihad, court told
08nov05
NINE men arrested overnight in anti-terrorism raids had formed a group aimed at carrying out a jihad or holy war, a Melbourne court has been told.
Prosecutor Richard Maidment QC told the Melbourne Magistrate's court the nine formed a terrorist group to kill "innocent men and women in Australia". The nine include include Osama Bin Laden supporter, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr. The Melbourne suspects had been planning terrorist crimes for more than 12 months, Mr Maidment said. "There's been talk within the Melbourne group that the Sydney group are further ahead than them and they wanted to do something about that," Mr Maidment said.
"The members of the Sydney group have been gathering chemicals of a kind that were used in the London Underground bombings.
"They've been involved in military training and were planning a weekend in Ocean Grove (southwest of Melbourne).
"It is alleged that all of the persons who have been before the court this morning along with another not presently in custody constitutes a terrorist organisation.
"That organisation is directed by the defendant Benbrika.
"Each of the members of the group are committed to the cause of violent jihad."
The men were arrested about 2.30am (AEDT) in Melbourne's north and west in what been described as Australia's largest ever anti-terrorism operation.
Simultaneous raids were conducted in Sydney's southwestern suburbs, where seven people were arrested.
In Melbourne, police raided homes in Preston, Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Hadfield, Coburg, Yarraville and Meadow Heights.
In August, Benbrika said Osama Bin Laden was a great man and it was okay for Australian Muslims to fight Coalition troops in Iraq.
He is a dual Algerian and Australian citizen who has lived in Melbourne's northern suburbs since 1989.
Benbrika also was the Sydney group's spiritual leader, Mr Maidment said.
He said the Melbourne group believed it was permitted in some circumstances to kill innocent women and children.
"The Crown points to evidence that each member of the group remains committed to the pursuit of violent jihad in Australia," Mr Maidment said in court.
He said members of the group engaged in military-style training at Kinglake, north-east of Melbourne.
Mr Maidment said the group had been involved in discussions about bomb making and were in possession of unauthorised firearms, including a loaded handgun.
"There was discussion about sourcing chemicals and identifying chemicals that were not easy to source since September 11 (2001)," the prosecutor said. |
