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Taboo · 11-07-2005, 05:13 PM

Thwarted Terorist Attack in Australia - Large Scale
Sorry if already posted... bit scary for my friends/webmasters in Australia.

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Large scale terror attack foiled
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/st...001021,00.html

November 08, 2005

POLICE say they have foiled a large scale terrorist attack in Australia following the arrest of at least 17 people in raids in Sydney and Melbourne early today.

Nine people in Melbourne and eight in Sydney were arrested as hundreds of ASIO, Australian Federal Police and state police officers swooped on homes in the two cities, police said.

In western Sydney, a man was shot and wounded by police.

However police would not immediately confirm the shooting was linked to the raids, which got under way in Sydney and Melbourne simultaneously about 2.30am (AEDT) and continued late this morning.

The man shot by police in Sydney's Green Valley just before 9am (AEDT) was taken to Liverpool Hospital with a serious wound to his upper body, but no further details were immediately available.

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

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 had been seized in Sydney by officers wearing protective clothing, police said.

Those arrested were due to appear in court in Melbourne and Sydney today, on federal and state charges.

Police said they would oppose bail.

"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 told ABC radio.

Police had not identified any targets.

"We believe ... that we've disrupted a large scale operation which, had it been allowed to go through to fruition, we certainly believe would have been catastrophic," Mr Moroney told the Nine Network.

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".

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said there was no specific target in Melbourne, and ruled out a link to any threats against 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.

"It's the largest operation of counter-terrorism that's ever been conducted in this country and it's taken us a long period of time," she said.

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

Police said the raids in Sydney targeted homes in south western suburbs including Wiley Park, while in Melbourne homes were raided in suburbs including Preston, Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Hadfield, Coburg and Yarraville and Meadow Heights.

Those arrested in Melbourne faced charges included intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation and intentionally directing the activities of a terrorist organisation, Australian Federal Police said.

It was not yet clear what charges those arrested in Sydney faced.

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

Alleging a link between the Sydney and Melbourne arrests, Mr Moroney said: "We will certainly be presenting matters before the court today which we will seek to establish links between both groups."

One of the nine arrested in Melbourne was the outspoken Melbourne Muslim cleric Abu Bakr (Bakr), said his lawyer Rob Stary.

Abu Bakr was among the radical Islamic clerics excluded by Prime Minister John Howard from a recent summit on religious violence.

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

The group had not been specified by authorities, he said.

"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.

"They are the only charges.

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-terror operation 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.

11-07-2005, 05:13 PM
Taboo Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: I'd rather be networking than not working. Posts: 3,700	Thwarted Terorist Attack in Australia - Large Scale Thwarted Terorist Attack in Australia - Large Scale Sorry if already posted... bit scary for my friends/webmasters in Australia. // Large scale terror attack foiled http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/st...001021,00.html November 08, 2005 POLICE say they have foiled a large scale terrorist attack in Australia following the arrest of at least 17 people in raids in Sydney and Melbourne early today. Nine people in Melbourne and eight in Sydney were arrested as hundreds of ASIO, Australian Federal Police and state police officers swooped on homes in the two cities, police said. In western Sydney, a man was shot and wounded by police. However police would not immediately confirm the shooting was linked to the raids, which got under way in Sydney and Melbourne simultaneously about 2.30am (AEDT) and continued late this morning. The man shot by police in Sydney's Green Valley just before 9am (AEDT) was taken to Liverpool Hospital with a serious wound to his upper body, but no further details were immediately available. The raids were the culmination of a 16-month operation and the suspects in Melbourne and Sydney were alleged to be working together, police said. 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 had been seized in Sydney by officers wearing protective clothing, police said. Those arrested were due to appear in court in Melbourne and Sydney today, on federal and state charges. Police said they would oppose bail. "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 told ABC radio. Police had not identified any targets. "We believe ... that we've disrupted a large scale operation which, had it been allowed to go through to fruition, we certainly believe would have been catastrophic," Mr Moroney told the Nine Network. 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". Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said there was no specific target in Melbourne, and ruled out a link to any threats against 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. "It's the largest operation of counter-terrorism that's ever been conducted in this country and it's taken us a long period of time," she said. Senior police said while last week's federal amendments to anti-terror legislation had been a help, the raids would have taken place anyway. Police said the raids in Sydney targeted homes in south western suburbs including Wiley Park, while in Melbourne homes were raided in suburbs including Preston, Dallas, Hoppers Crossing, Fawkner, Hadfield, Coburg and Yarraville and Meadow Heights. Those arrested in Melbourne faced charges included intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation and intentionally directing the activities of a terrorist organisation, Australian Federal Police said. It was not yet clear what charges those arrested in Sydney faced. At least five of those arrested in Sydney were Australian citizens. Alleging a link between the Sydney and Melbourne arrests, Mr Moroney said: "We will certainly be presenting matters before the court today which we will seek to establish links between both groups." One of the nine arrested in Melbourne was the outspoken Melbourne Muslim cleric Abu Bakr (Bakr), said his lawyer Rob Stary. Abu Bakr was among the radical Islamic clerics excluded by Prime Minister John Howard from a recent summit on religious violence. Mr Stary said the nine men, including Bakr, had been charged with being members of a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism legislation. The group had not been specified by authorities, he said. "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. "They are the only charges. 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-terror operation 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.