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November 8, 2005
Australia: Muslims Arrested in Anti-Terror Raids
Overnight, 16 Muslims have been arrested in Melbourne and Sydney by as many as 400 police, states abc.net.au. Seven were arrested in Sydney and nine in Melbourne.
The spokesperson for the Australian Mufti, Lebanese-Australian Keysar Trad (pictured) who is part of the Islamic Friendship Association has claimed talk-back radio has been "full of vitriolic comments" about the men who were arrested in pre-dawn raids. One of those arrested is a cleric, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, aged 45, from Dallas in the northwest of Melbourne.
Waheed Aly (pictured below) from the Islamic Council of Victoria said that there had recently been an increase in "hate crimes" against Muslims. However he said that he hoped the arrests would ease suspicion of Muslims and give those charged a chance to defend themselves.
More than 20 homes were targetted in the raids, the largest "counter-terror" the operation seen in Australia. The arrests follow a 16-month investigation.
According to Islam Online one of the Sydney suspects was shot in the neck and critically injured. When police had asked him to stop as he walked along a suburban street, he pulled out a gun and fired at the officers, who shot back.
News MSN.au states that the nine Melbourne men were committed to "violent jihad" in Australia. They were in court.
Members of terror cells in Melbourne and Sydney had discussed making bombs, and had accumulated money, bomb-making chemicals and firearms, prosecutor Richard Maidment QC told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.Police allege one member of the Melbourne cell was impatient to become a martyr, possibly in a suicide bombing.
It is also alleged the Melbourne men took part in military-style training in Victoria, and were carrying out counter-surveillance after realising police were monitoring their activities.
The cleric, Benbrika, was charged with directing the activities of a terrorist organisation and being a member of a terrorist organisation.
Surveillance teams had heard Abdulla Merhi (20), asking permission to become a martyr. The police said at the court that they have 240 hours of recorded conversations. The prosecutor, Mr Maidment, said that preacher Benbrika headed the Melbourne cell, and was the spiritual leader of the Sydney group. The group has been under surveillance since July 2004.
Benbrika, the cleric, (pictured in white hat) has already outraged Australians by justifying jihadism against Australian troops in Iraq. In August, he said "I must preach Holy War", according to the Age. He alled Osama bin Laden a "great man" and advised jihad against troops. His passport was revoked earlier in the year. He stated: "My religion doesn't tolerate other religion . . . Jihad is a part of my religion."
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 8, 2005 6:28 AM
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