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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 01/15/2003 2:18:34 PM PST by knighthawk
TERROR suspect Jack "Jihad" Thomas, arrested this week by police in Pakistan, has close links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qa'ida network, according to a senior Pakistani official.
"This guy was in touch with al-Qa'ida operatives who have managed to sneak into Karachi. He's in league with them and was in close touch with them," the unnamed official said yesterday.
But Rob Stary, the Melbourne lawyer retained by Mr Thomas's family, said there was no evidence against his client and urged the Australian Government to intervene.
"They cannot sit back passively to allow one of their citizens to remain or be detained without being charged," he said. "Whether it's the Prime Minister or Attorney-General Daryl Williams, some high-ranking cabinet minister ought to take the initiative immediately."
Pakistan's Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat said the Australian was being interrogated for his links to "terrorists".
"The investigation is continuing and we have not so far received any request from Australia for extradition of the suspect," Mr Hayat said.
Mr Thomas trained as a chef at some of Melbourne's top restaurants before quitting to focus on his study of the Koran.
The 29-year-old, who is married to an Indonesian woman and has one child, has been accused by the Australian Government of training as a terrorist in Afghanistan.
Mr Thomas was a loyal worker, "perhaps a little too loyal", a former colleague said.
"He always seemed to be doing things for other people rather than looking out for himself," he said.
He was "unique", a person you either "liked or disliked".
"But that said, he always seemed to have girls around and was a relatively popular, normal 22-year-old kid," he said.
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