Posted on 11/05/2005 7:13:40 PM PST by FairOpinion
AUSTRALIA faces new terrorist threats from a radical group that has only this week been identified by ASIO, according to intelligence sources.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is investigating the new terrorist cell. It is said to be planning attacks - designed to cause mass casualties - in Melbourne and Sydney. Sources say security services were surprised by revelations of the group's existence.
The group is believed to be made up of Australian-born children of Muslim immigrants.
An intelligence source said: "This is a disturbing development.
"This new group appears to have been planning or considering carrying out extremely violent acts that would result in very large numbers of casualties.
Advertisement: "This is something new - it is not related to people whose names are already in the public domain." The Sunday Herald Sun also has learned that Chechen terrorists skilled in bomb making have established links with radical Islamic groups in Melbourne and Sydney.
It is understood some members of these groups have travelled to the southern Philippines, where Chechen groups have been instructing Islamic militants in bomb making techniques.
The new terror threat was relayed to Attorney-General Philip Ruddock on Monday and then made public on Wednesday by Prime Minister John Howard.
Mr Ruddock called on Australians yesterday to be alert to new threats, and help authorities.
"All Australians should be alert to unusual activities that suggest something might be possible," he said.
"It is better to be prudent and use the 1800 number (1800 123 400). My view is that it is better if people err on the side of caution.
"I would have to say the authorities have been aided in a number of inquiries from information they have received from the public."
ASIO has long been probing links between radical Muslims in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as any connections they had to al-Qaida or Chechen terrorists.
In June, ASIO raided on houses in Melbourne and Sydney. The raids were part of Operation Pandanus, a year-long investigation prompted by people acting suspiciously outside the stock exchange in Melbourne.
But ASIO received new information this week that pointed to plans being hatched by a new group, believed to be Islamist and violent.
This week's threat prompted the Government to recall the Senate to pass an amended law giving authorities greater power to act against terrorists.
FoxNews also mentioned about a half hour ago, that the credible threat they learned about in Australia included specifically terror attacks on ships near Somalia. (And we all know about the failed attempt at boarding and hijacking the Seabourn Spirit off the Somalia coast earlier today)
I hope PC doesn't turn Australia into another France, they need to nip islamofacism in the bud before it's too late.
I just read some posts on another thread that stated "only a handful of muslims are causing these problems, the majority of them want peace". I'm wondering how a tiny percentage of muslims can cause world-wide terror unless they have a whole lot of help from a whole lot of their 'peaceful' brothers.
Interesting about the ship, I was wondering about that bit I figured a hostage/hi-jack would take more people than the half dozen or so reported.. also kinda small boats to be 100 miles offshore.
You might want to read this thread, there are some interesting posts there:
Pirates attack luxury liner off Somalia (attack repelled)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1516472/posts
Al Qaeda may have been counting on some inside help, once they take over the ship and there could also have been other ships coming, once it was in their hands. Remember, we read that Al Qaeda has several ships, in the order of at least a dozen or so.
Chechen terrorists are a menace not just to Russia.
The Muzzies would love to blow up icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Sydney Opera House or the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor but the government has made sensible moves that have been generally accepted by the public with only peripheral screeching by the irrelevent left. I like the "dob-in" a terrorist free call number and calls seem to be followed up too.
An intelligence source said: "This is a disturbing development." ~~~~~~ Is Laura Ingraham being interviewed?
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