Australia: Australian police yesterday arrested 17 people, including a Muslim cleric and a man they said wanted to become a suicide bomber, on charges of planning terrorist attacks as part of a "violent jihad in Australia".
One of the arrested men was in critical condition in hospital after being shot by police when he opened fire during early morning raids in Sydney and Melbourne. Police seized chemicals, firearms, computers, backpacks and travel documents in the raids.
The loose-knit group did not have a target, but it was trying to buy chemicals similar to those used in the London bombings in July, for a "catastrophic" attack, police said.
"I am satisfied that we have disrupted what I would regard as the final stages of a terrorist attack or the launch of a terrorist attack in Australia," said New South Wales state police commissioner Ken Moroney.
During a court appearance, police said Muslim cleric Abu Bakr, who called bin Laden a "great man" that defends Muslims fighting US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, was the spiritual leader of the group. He was remanded in custody until January 31st. The Melbourne court was told the men had engaged in military-like training in rural Australia and that one man had expressed a desire to become a "martyr" in Australia.
Police said they had 240 hours of telephone intercepts and recordings of the group. Detective Chris Murray told the court that one man had "asked permission to become a martyr in Australia, he wanted to die here".
Det Murray said the man had been told to wait, but was impatient, adding he wanted to "go in a similar way to a suicide bomber".
Prime minister John Howard last week said Australia received intelligence about a "terrorist threat" and amended anti-terror laws making it easier for police to arrest suspects.
Victorian state police commissioner Christine Nixon told reporters the group did not have a target and specifically ruled out the Commonwealth Games, which are due to be held in Melbourne in March and opened by Queen Elizabeth.
Australia, a staunch US ally with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has never suffered a major peacetime attack on home soil.
Police said eight people were arrested in Sydney and nine in Melbourne. Prosecutor Richard Maidment told the Melbourne court that the men were committed to "violent jihad in Australia. There have been discussions about bomb making".
The court heard the men had stolen cars to raise funds to buy firearms and chemicals.
The Sydney group had tried to buy chemicals used in the London bombings and the Melbourne group had ordered chemical handling equipment.