'Australia's biggest counter-terror operation'

[Rahima]

Any Muslim thinking of getting comfortable down under or anywhere else in the west better think again.

 

We should all migrate back to the Muslim lands before the worst of these laws take effect.

_________________________________________________

 

'Australia's biggest counter-terror operation'

 

By Elisabeth Lopez, Debbie Cuthbertson

 

 

Today's terror raids which netted 17 arrests were the biggest counter-terrorist police operation Australia has ever seen, police say.

 

Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon has hailed the actions of more than 100 of her officers, in co-operation with the Australian Federal Police, ASIO, and NSW police, in bringing a 16-month anti-terrorism investigation to fruition.

 

"It's easily the biggest operation that's ever taken place in this country," she told reporters in Melbourne this morning.

 

"It's certainly up there with the Purana (Melbourne gangland) taskforce."

 

"We've been able to keep it secret, we've been able to carry out the investigations and bring it to a point where (arrests have been made)."

 

Nine suspects charged after the Melbourne raids could face up to 25 years in prison, she said.

 

The men, who include Muslim cleric Abu Bakr, were charged with intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation; some were also charged with intentionally directing the activities of a terrorist organisation.

 

The nine men are at Melbourne Magistrates Court, where their bail application is being heard.

 

Commissioner Nixon said the charge of being a member of a terrorist organisation attracted a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment. The charge of directing a terrorist organisation attracted a maximum of 25 years, she said.

 

"These are serious charges and serious offences," she told a press conference this morning. "There was sufficient evidence for a significant attack."

 

Asked if the thwarted attack was a bombing, Ms Nixon said: "It was a significant attack", and the intelligence revealed publicly last week by the Prime Minister was "key" to the raids and subsequent arrests.

 

She said the men who had been charged were expected to face further charges involving "a range of state-based offences".

 

Australian Federal Police agent Frank Prendergast then stepped in to tell the media that they were "starting to get into details about an ongoing investigation" and that police could therefore not provide detailed answers to all questions.

 

Commissioner Nixon said the group to which the men belonged "doesn't have a name" and "had no specific target in mind".

 

She said there was no evidence to suggest the group's alleged preparations related to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

 

Commissioner Nixon said her officers had been watching the group for 16 months.

 

"We came to a point where we felt we were able to lay charges. We believed that (an amendment to Commonwealth counter-terrorism legislation last week) assisted us. We were working to a point where we believed we would have been able to take action against this group otherwise."

Mr Prendergast said more suspects could be interviewed as part of the investigation.

 

"This has been a very protracted and complex operation," he said. "It's broken new ground in many ways".

 

Mr Prendergast said items seized during the raids including computer files and documents.

He said some suspects had made overseas trips in recent months or years, but declined to give dates or locations.

 

Asked why the terror level alert had stayed at medium through the 16-month investigation, he said: "Terror level alert levels are not an issue for the police.

 

"(ASIO) was very much aware of the threat and took it into account.

 

"The timing (of the raids) was influenced by operational issues. The decision to arrest was an operational decision. The laws passed last week in Federal Parliament are an issue for the Government."

 

He said that although police had spoken to everyone they wanted to at this stage, he refused to say whether others would be sought for questioning later.

 

"We're starting to touch on detail around the ongoing investigation."

 

He said there was "no specific evidence" linking the raids with September 11 or the London bombings.

 

"I think that would be putting it too strongly," he said.

 

- theage.com.au

[Rahima]

Terror package introduced to parliament

 

The federal government's package of tough new anti-terror laws have been introduced to parliament.

 

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the legislation would ensure Australia had "the toughest laws possible to prosecute those responsible should a terrorist attack occur".

"The bill ensures that we are in the strongest position to prevent new and emerging threats to stop terrorists carrying out their intended acts," he told parliament.

 

The government hopes the legislation will be approved by parliament before Christmas.

 

Mr Ruddock said there were extensive safeguards locked into the legislation on the issue of control orders.

 

"In considering whether to apply for or issue a control order, the personal circumstances of an individual will need to be balanced against the threat to the community," he said.

 

"This does not mean that personal circumstances will outweigh the assessment of a threat, but it is recognised that both issue need to be taken into account."

 

Mr Ruddock said the bill would be referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee for consideration to report by November 28.

 

All states and territories except the ACT have given the green light to the reforms, after the government agreed to better civil liberties protections.

 

The premiers had been seeking greater judicial oversight of control and detention orders, a removal of shoot-to-kill provisions, tightening of the laws to avoid a High Court challenge and a public interest monitor to oversee federal police operating in Queensland.

 

The government wants to have the laws passed by Christmas.

 

The package is separate from an amendment to the existing anti-terror laws passed by the lower house on Wednesday, following specific information about a potential terrorist threat in Australia.

 

The amendment, which is still being debated in the Senate, would make it easier to prosecute people thought to be planning a terrorist attack.

 

Theage.com.au

[Rahima]

Terror threat just a coincidence: PM

 

Prime Minister John Howard has rejected suggestions his announcement today of a potential terrorist threat to Australia was timed to coincide with the introduction of controversial new laws.

 

Mr Howard said he had received intelligence indicating an attack on Australia was possible.

Although he refused to give details, he said an urgent amendment to existing anti-terrorism laws was required to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to protect Australians.

 

Asked tonight if it was merely a coincidence today's announcement of the terror threat came as the government was introducing controversial anti-terror laws and workplace relations legislation, Mr Howard said "absolutely, absolutely."

 

"Those who would argue that - and I know you're not suggesting that in some way the police and the security services are doing the government's bidding - (are wrong)," Mr Howard told the Nine Network.

 

"What happens with these situations is that when the security services and the police get information ... they bring it to people in my position.

 

"We discuss it with them and in this particular case, advice was given that the situation would be strengthened if we could make this amendment."

He denied the move was designed to frighten voters concerned about the loss of civil liberties under the government's proposed anti-terror legislation.

 

"I didn't set out to scare anybody," Mr Howard said.

 

"It's a question of you're damned if you do (reveal details of the threat) and you're damned if you don't."

 

Australia's law-enforcement agencies had urged the government to alter existing laws, believing it would help the fight against terror.

 

"After consulting all six state premiers yesterday, we've decided to alter the existing terrorism legislation to substitute the current provision that says in order to prove a charge you have to prove an established preparation for a specific terrorist act, with a more general provision providing for 'a' terrorist act," Mr Howard said.

 

"I know that sounds pedantic but ... in order to prosecute people you've got to do it legally and you've got to have the law on your side.

"The reason that we have passed it through the House of Representatives is that we have been told by our law-enforcement agencies ... that passing this law, making this change, would enhance the capacity of the law-enforcement agencies to deal with the situation."

 

Mr Howard said he could not rule out whether or not terrorists would attack Australia.

"I can't guarantee that any particular thing is going to happen," he said.

 

"I can't go into detail of the information I have."

 

He said Australia's security agencies may advise him to change the nation's medium security alert level.

 

"We might be advised any moment to change that," he said.

 

"But medium (alert level) covers, in a sense, the current situation which is that a terrorist attack is possible."

 

Mr Howard said he did not want to bungle police investigations into the terror threat by revealing specifics.

 

"This is a very difficult balancing act," he said.

 

"On the one hand we have to tell the public why we're changing the law but on the other hand if I go into all the details of what I've been given I will prejudice the operation.

 

"I have information tonight that I didn't have at the weekend.

 

"That information concerns me, and that information's been shared with the Labor Party and, in general terms, with the state premiers, and it's caused us to change the law.

 

"We are doing everything we can."

 

- AAP

theage.com.au

[Rahima]

Lawyer attacks trial by police, politicians and media

 

By Fergus Shiel

November 10, 2005

 

Has the central legal concept of innocence until proven guilty been crushed under the weight of political brinkmanship, talkback fury and tabloid headlines such as 'Holy War Plot' and 'Ready to die for Jihad'?

 

Rob Stary, lawyer for eight of the nine terror suspects arrested in Melbourne this week, says the public comments of politicians, police chiefs and talkback callers have denied his clients the presumption of innocence.

 

But others, like former chief magistrate Michael Adams, QC, say media coverage has no effect on our magistrates and judges and juries can be directed to disregard it.

 

Mr Stary said: "There is no presumption of innocence. That's just a quaint notion we all say we subscribe to as lawyers — and the Attorney-General says he subscribes to — but the reality is that these people are presumed guilty.

"I heard a caller to talkback radio saying, 'How is it that these men can apply for bail?' and that about sums up most people's attitudes.

 

"But if you actually look at the evidence — what they are charged with is membership of an organisation, not even one of the Government's proscribed organisations, just membership of an unspecified organisation.

 

"They are not charged with a weapons offence, nor do they face conspiracy charges or any of the other raft of possible (terrorism) charges."

Mr Stary said there was nothing to suggest that the men, who were in the same prayer group, were involved in an imminent attack.

 

Mr Adams said that presumption of innocence, while often abused in the media, remained fundamentally important in our courts.

 

He said that magistrates and judges were focused solely on evidence and juries were sophisticated enough to disregard what they heard in the media and concentrate on the case before them.

 

"I really don't think that any magistrate would be affected by public clamour. The presumption of innocence is a fundamental and great protector of our society," he said.

 

The premiers of Victoria and NSW and senior police have claimed that a terrorist attack was thwarted by the arrest of the suspects in Melbourne and Sydney.

 

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".

 

NSW Police Minister Carl Scully said: "I am satisfied that this state was under an imminent threat of a potentially catastrophic terrorist act."

 

One Melbourne newsreader told viewers: "These are people who hate our way of life."

 

Melbourne University media law expert Andrew Kenyon said the intensity of media coverage was understandable given the unprecedented scale of the raids and arrests and the terrorist threat climate.

 

He said that some coverage "did appear to presume guilt and that may have been accidental because events happened very quickly".

 

University of NSW law expert David Brown said there appeared to be a disparity between some of the sweeping comments made by politicians and police and the charges faced by the Melbourne men.

 

Professor Brown said the terrorism issue had become highly politicised and the rush to pre-judge was concerning, but it would be wrong to overplay the susceptibility of juries to media clamour.

 

He said the concept of innocence until proven guilty was somewhat nebulous when between 20 and 25 per cent of prisoners were held in remand awaiting trial.

 

But it remained a fundamental principle and it was worrying when politicians made comments relating to specifics of charges still to be proven, he said.

 

Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Noel Ashby said authorities did not go too far in describing an "imminent attack" being planned by the Melbourne group despite no such evidence being led in court. He said that other serious charges were likely to be laid against the nine.

 

theage.com.au

[Rahima]

Community in shock and disbelief

 

By Staff Reporters

November 10, 2005

 

THEY sported beards, they professed to be "good Muslims" and frequented mosques in the northern suburbs. Their families and neighbours believed they were quiet men of faith living peaceably in the community.

The followers of Abdul Nacer Benbrika were by and large from Lebanese migrant families who had fled a brutal civil war; the parents were hard-working and respected.

Most worshipped regularly at Preston mosque, where cleric Sheikh Fehmi Naji el-Imam was at a loss to understand or explain their alleged activities.

"Generally, I know them very well and they are good. They used to come to the mosque, they carried out their duties here and shared in the services. They came in and out peacefully. No problem whatsoever," he said. "That why I don't understand what they were involved in outside."

This image stands in marked contrast to the one painted by authorities: of a secret cell of young men hatching plans to unleash a "catastrophic" terrorist attack at home.

The relatives who spoke to The Age yesterday universally protested the defendants' innocence and expressed disbelief.

"He is not an extremist. He's been targeted for practising his religion, for being a Muslim," said Maryann Raad, wife of accused man Ahmed Raad, the alleged treasurer of the group.

The Taha family — an extended migrant clan with links across several northern suburbs — yesterday defended accused Hany Taha. "He's just innocent, that's all. He's no terrorist," a younger sister said.

Mahmoud Joud described his eldest son, Aiman Joud, 21, as a hard-working, obedient son. "I believe he's an angel because he's a very clean man. Why they accuse him? He never go to the pub, never do anything. Why they say he's a fundamentalist? Why?"

As students at a Coburg Islamic school, Ahmed and Ezzit Raad appeared disinterested in religious studies. At times, teachers would have to force the brothers into King Khalid school's prayer room for midday recitations.

The principal, Salah Salman, said the brothers, born in Australia of Lebanese parents, were unremarkable students who loved sport. "They are from a very decent, nice family."

Only recently did the brothers embrace a fierce profession of their faith, although family and friends are mystified as to the cause.

Ahmed Raad, 22, of Fawkner, is a former apprentice plumber who had lived with his pregnant wife, Maryann.

His elder brother, Ezzit, 23, of Preston, is an electrician, described by neighbours as a quiet man who rarely said hello. He is married with a toddler daughter.

Mrs Raad said her husband Ahmed had become a practising Muslim late last year. "He's just an extremely friendly young man who gets along with people of all nationalities and religions. Everyone loves him."

Mrs Raad said the brothers were a tight-knit duo who often socialised together, playing cards and watching DVDs.

Another of the accused, Abdulla Merhi, an Australian-born man of Lebanese origin, was working as an apprentice electrician. Recently married, his wife is due to give birth soon, which is why a friend yesterday was so shocked to hear allegations that he was anxious to be a suicide bomber.

His brother, Omar Merhi, is a shop steward with the Electrical Trade Union and was interviewed for the union's website in September this year. He spoke of a peaceable family comfortable with the mainstream culture.

In the interview, Mr Merhi said his family came to Australia in 1977 from Lebanon and spoke of his hatred of terrorist acts. "We're totally against any form of terrorism. Anyone who is a Muslim knows Islam is totally against all of that."

About four months ago another accused, Fadal Sayadi, moved into a weatherboard home in Coburg with his wife.

Sayadi, 25, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday to plead guilty to a charge of attempted theft by deception this year. A plumber, he had paid for two power drills worth $1260 with a card issued in the name of "Brown". He told police he "needed the money".

Raided by ASIO in June, he reportedly attended the radical Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah mosque in Brunswick, which is led by fringe cleric Sheikh Mohammed Omran.

Another of the men, Ammer Haddara, also lived at home with his Lebanese migrant family in Yarraville. An associate said he had good IT skills and was "business-minded".

The source said Haddara, 26, was always on the look-out for new business opportunities. He is listed as the sole director of al-Haramain Travel Pty Ltd, a company registered to his home address.

His family yesterday refused to speak to the media. Sheikh Fehmi said they had pleaded to be left alone."They are not prepared to talk to anybody at this stage, not even to me," he said.

While his parents and several younger siblings live in a smart house in Coburg, Hany Taha, 31, had recently moved with his wife and three young children to a more modest property in nearby Hadfield.

The close-knit nature of the clan meant that Taha also worked in the family panelbeating business, Taha Motors, with his father, Khaled, and older brother. On weekends he could sometimes be spotted in the vicinity of halal pizza shops in the Coburg area.

The immediate family is known to be prosperous in the larger Lebanese community. "They are a respectable, middle-class family," one source said.

Sheikh Fehmi said he had officiated at Taha's wedding some years ago and had been disturbed to discover the mild-mannered man had been accused of planning terror. "He's a straightforward, quiet man," he said.

Another accused, Shane Kent, 28, had converted to Islam and was known by his adopted Muslim name Yasin.

Sheikh Fehmi yesterday said he did not know Kent, who reportedly visited Afghanistan in 2001 to fight for the Taliban and train in a military camp run by al-Qaeda.

"We don't know the biography of every one of these people," he said.

"We know them as people who come here from the community. Whenever they come, whoever they are, they are welcome."

Reported by Farah Farouque, Ewin Hannan, Sasha Shtargot, Martin Boulton, Carolyn Webb, Rachel Kleinman and Lorna Edwards

theage.com.au

[Haaraahur.]

My dear sister. The horrors we are witnessing are barely the tip of the iceberg. MAY ALLAH PROTECT US FROM ALL EVIL AND HARM. Aamiin

 

Just read the stories of those innocent muslims who are being persecuted right now.

link

Link 2

[Socod_badne]

What are they suppose to do? How should they defend their people from people who have no regard for their lifes let alone those of others?

 

It's easy to criticise but what is the alternative to current counterterrorism tactics and laws?

 

Keep in mind that the ppl they are trying to stop are regular muslims up until they blow themselves up. How do you identify potential suicide bombers from the sea of muslims? Put yourself in the shoes of Western security forces, how would you deal with this problem?

 

It is not an easy job. The only reason we don't see more suicide bombings is due to the bravura of western intelligence and security forces. No other reason!

[Legend of Zu]

Before we rush to conclusions, and know this whateva happened in Melb or Syd will have a longer term impact on the Aussie muslims, lets digest what just took place and understand what will follow.

 

As I am economical with the time..I would come back later for my two cents!

 

Salaamaat..

[Foxy]

eventhough I am not a fan of howard's Government, but any terrorist orginastion caught bare handed are better off behind bars.......

Extremeist Mullahs who have No respect for the country that have given them unconditional shelter from come rain, hail or sunshine should atleast respect the current country of resident ways of livelyhood (live peacefully within their newly found home)...other wise face the consequences of being caught while masterminding a masacare

 

 

cheers

[Castro]

^ Foxy, extremism and terrorism (real and imagined) have sadly become the scare tactics of governments all over the world in order to deny their own citizens often hard earned civil rights. Fortunately, even in a country that had an attack on the scale of 9/11, there are enough protests and resistance to removal of such rights. It's up to the people how much they'll allow their governments to do. If the people of a country are all stubidh and all ignorant (which is impossible) and that government is out to curtail civil liberties using draconian laws then its time to move. I'm sure Australians are not all stubidh and are aware of the deception of Howard and his government.

[Khayr]

Salamad,

 

I was reading something earleir this week how the mukhabaraat subdued muslims.

 

They have a technique called 'CONFRONTATIONNNAL ARGUMENTATION' which basically measn harassing the MUSLIM and evoking a reaction out of them.

 

Basically, they want to frustrate the hell out of you and make you SCREAM, TOUCH THEM, DISOBEY THEM,

so they can CHARGE you with something and lock you

away and then LET THE MEDIA take care of you

and CHEW YOU OUT!!!

 

You are in a LOSE-LOSE situation, set up for Failure!!!

[Jacpher]

For those nomads that believe everything they see on TV about the Islamic terrorism and extremism, you may want to read a different prospective, one that you don’t expect to see on TV. Robert Pape is a political science professor at the Universtiy of Chicago and an expert of suicide terrorism. He is also the author of Dying to Win. I saw him on CNN AN 360 last night and said some interesting things about the mindset of a suicide bomber. He’s one of the few terrorism experts that seem to know what they’re talking about. Check the links below.

 

Robert Pape on Suicide Bombing: CNN

 

Dying to Win: Random House Publishing

[Yoonis_Cadue]

Australia will be attacked by Al-Qaeda because of their unquestioned support to the war on terror and the support they gave to the US-Admininstartion.

 

Britain has been attacked before and now it's Australia's turn.

 

That's the western line of thinking but I believe that is more of panick-mongering on behalf of the australian government.

[FatB]

Castro. My friend I am laughing so hard right after reading your response....no offence intended but,

I’m sure Australians are not all ****** and are aware of the deception of Howard and his government.

^^^

 

Let me tell you something, johny Howard has played his card absolutely right. One he, made a mad showcase of an “alleged†terror “intelligence†report that outlined a rough terror threat. Then he called the opposition leader, mr...What was his name, he's fat and...oh yeah Kim beastly, to pass new amendments to the constitution to allow the governments bill to be passed through parliament. So, right now we are stuck with this so called...whatever they call it and there is nothing we can do.

 

o yeah, on the same day as this bill was passed, the governments new industrial relations changes that drew nation wide scrutiny was moved through parliament. So, the "terror" bill was in actual fact a decoy for the new changes of work place reform....just goes to show don't it

[FatB]

and yoonis

 

exactly wat would be atchived is Australia was attacked???

 

watankaan qofna mu u soo socdo, iyaka lee isku qoraayaan maahime.

 

if they attack what would they hit, a few kangaroos or maybe assasinate steve irwin?