Rocket launcher terror link made

news.com.au ^ | 5th January 2007 | Nick Butterly, Paul Mulvey and Amy Coopes

[naturalman1975]

THE 28-year-old Sydney man today charged for possessing seven rocket launchers was involved in the group last year arrested for plotting to blow up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Lucas Heights nuclear reactor, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said.

Taha Abdul Rahman was arrested at a house in Leumeah, in Sydney's south-west, and charged with 17 offences related to the receipt, supply and possession of the weapons.

He appeared briefly in court this afternoon and was remanded in custody until January 10.

Mr Keelty said the arrested man was involved in the group arrested last year for plotting to blow up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Lucas Heights nuclear reactor but said it was important not to "over-sensationalise" matters before the court.

"Clearly alleged possession of a rocket launcher by a civilian with alleged connections to the other persons before the court is of serious concern,'' he said.

He said the arrested man had no immediate connections to the ADF, and no members of the ADF were said to be under investigation at this point.

The focus of the AFP investigation was now shifting from how the weapon got from the ADF and into the hands of an potential terrorist organisation, Mr Keelty said.

"We still haven't satisfied ourselves that there were other missing weapons and that's the reason why the Department of Defence have announced their audit that's already started to take place and that's an audit that's been joined by ASIO and we think that's an appropriate step,'' Commissioner Keelty said.

The AFP, ASIO and the NSW Police are jointly investigating the theft of the seven rocket launchers from the ADF.