"That'll teach those damned muslim hippies..."
Posted on 04/01/2006 5:48:49 PM PST by naturalman1975
COUNTER-terrorism police have indicated more arrests could follow the dramatic raids that foiled a potential terror attack on home soil.
Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said yesterday the arrests of three Melbourne men on Friday night had overcome a genuine threat.
"We believe (these) arrests have significantly disrupted the activities of a group alleged to be making arrangements to carry out a terrorist act in Australia," she said.
The Australian Federal Police's counter-terrorism manager, Assistant Commissioner Frank Prendergast, said Operation Pendennis, which led to the raids, was complex.
He declined to say whether more arrests were imminent, but said: "We don't rule out the possibility of other people being charged."
The three are alleged sympathisers of radical Islamic cleric Nacer Benbrika, who is charged with directing a terror organisation.
The Sunday Herald Sun has confirmed the men are Majed Radd, 21, of Coburg, Bassam Raad, 24, of Brunswick and Shoue Hammoud, 26, from Hadfield.
All men remain in custody before tomorrow's court appearance on terrorism charges.
These include funding, supporting and having membership of a terrorist organisation, which carry maximum penalties of 25 years in jail.
Ms Nixon yesterday confirmed that two of the accused were arrested for allegedly assaulting a cameraman outside court last November.
The plot did not involve a specific target, nor a group that went by a specific name, although the group is alleged to have links with overseas organisations.
The men's lawyer, Rob Stary, questioned the timing of the arrests, saying they coincided with preliminary hearings of the 10 Melbourne men arrested in November.
"I think anyone in the Muslim community who's had any association with Nacer Benbrika could be charged," Mr Stary said.
"We believe (these) arrests have significantly disrupted the activities of a group alleged to be making arrangements to carry out a terrorist act in Australia," she said.
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Good. We need to keep capturing them and killing them.
OH ADD did you hear about thissss????
At first I thought Richard Nixon?
Yep, read it in the paper.
These people should get the firing squad, but they'll probably end up with a slap on the wrist!
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