Terror gang arrested in Australia :: War on Terror

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November 8, 2005

Terror gang arrested in Australia

Last week I reported on the rush to change anti-terror legislation in Australia. The Australian government, with the full back of the Opposition, as well as the State Premiers, announced the need to make the change as a result of intelligence that had been received.

This morning, as I drove to work I heard that police had swooped in on two suburbs in Sydney, as well as in Melbourne, and that terrorists had been arrested. A total of 16 men have been arrested and have been charged as being members of a terrorist organization.

Here in Sydney, the police moved prepared for the appearance of the suspects at the courthouse. The footage that I saw on TV indicated that there was a large police presence in preparation for the initial hearing. The scene was repeated in Melbourne, only this time the scene was a little more on the wild side.

One man, from Green Valley was wounded after he attempted to shoot at police. He is under police guard in hospital. The big fish is Abu Bakr, a well-known loud-mouthed Muslim cleric, and definitely a man who was suspect from the beginning. Some of his speeches in overseas countries have been raising alarm bells for quite a while, and so it is no surprise that he is amongst the suspects.

As news of the arrests has been circulating further information about the operation has become known. The group was brought to the attention of ASIO almost two years ago. They had gotten as far as attempting to purchase the same kind of chemicals that were used during the London bombing. Since these chemicals were being amassed in Sydney, and there was an attempt to purchase some chemicals from a Padstow hardware, one can only speculate that perhaps the Sydney underground railway station was going to be the target.

I have no doubt that all of this is "breaking news" and that over the coming weeks there will be further arrests in Australia. For a long time we have been aware of the activity of the members of two particular mosques, one in Preston Melbourne, and the other at Lakemba, Sydney. Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr, is associated with the Preston mosque. (perhaps the police should look for secret craft rooms)

I have no doubt that my reporting on the breaking up of the Australian terror cells will be a work in progress. Stay tuned for further information as it becomes available.

Posted by at November 8, 2005 2:54 AM

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