Jihad in Australia: court told of plot

Jihad in Australia: court told of plot
November 8, 2005 - 1:25PM
Jihad in Australia: court told of plot


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 (south-west 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 south-western 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.
AAP