Posted on 12/20/2005 12:13:07 AM PST by naturalman1975
ONE of two Melbourne men seeking bail on terrorism charges trained with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and met Osama bin Laden in the months before the 2001 September 11 attacks, a court has been told.
Shane Kent, 28, of Meadow Heights, along with Amer Haddara, 26, of Yarraville, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.
Both have been charged with being members of a terrorist organisation.
They were two of 10 Victorian men charged following a series of raids in Melbourne and Sydney last month.
The prosecution opposed bail for both men.
Kent had attended Al Farooq terrorist training camp in Afghanistan from June to August 2001, it was revealed under cross examination by Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable Ben Condon, one of the officers involved in the Operation Pendennis anti-terror investigation.
Det Sen Const Condon said a witness, whose identity was suppressed by the court, had given a statement saying Kent attended the camp and met al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
When asked by Kent's lawyer, Peta Murphy, if Kent had ever pledged an allegiance to Bin Laden, Det Sen Const Condon said: "I believe he did".
Ms Murphy denied Kent made any such pledge.
Kent's passport was cancelled by the Australian Government in 2002, during a trip to Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates with his wife and mother-in-law, the court heard.
But Ms Murphy said Kent had never sought to re-apply for the passport or obtain one from another country.
The hearing, before Magistrate Reg Marron, will continue tomorrow.
Good post as it demonstrates that religious belief and terrorism are not necessarily synonymous with race.
We've got one in Canada seeking bail tomorrow; his mother, who urges her sons to become martyrs and kill Canadian Jews, is demanding the government not extradite him to the US to face charges.
I have reads some of the posts to Canadian newspapers. There are actually some prepared to defend him against extradition to the US on the grounds that the US may not treat him fairly.
It's not fair!!! I'd LOVE to meet bin Laden...preferably in a dark alley!!!
Armed with a 3006 I trust!
No...much more fun using my bare hands!
It's not fair!!! I'd LOVE to meet bin Laden...preferably in a dark alley!!!
Oh no! i don't want it to be dark i want him to suffer and i want it to be bright good and light so he can watch me enjoy shredding his mortal coil !
It wouldn't be Pretty.
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