Oz Terror Cells
New terror cell fears
Lincoln Wright
05mar06
AN urgent anti-terror operation has been launched in Melbourne just 10 days before the Commonwealth Games begin.Senior intelligence sources said agents were watching known associates of suspects identified during the anti-terrorist sting, Operation Pendennis, which culminated in the arrest of 19 men in Melbourne and Sydney in December.
They have also targeted radical Islamic convert Gregory Middap, also known as Helmut Kirsch.
Security services are also monitoring Melbourne-based fundamentalist group Hizbut-Tahrir.
At the same time suspected terror cells are being investigated in Canberra and Perth.
And it has emerged that the Games security blitz – the biggest in Australia's history – will cost around $200 million as 2600 Australian Defence Force troops are deployed across Melbourne.
A contingent of SAS anti-terror troops and about 200 ASIO and Australian Federal Police agents have also deployed in Melbourne ahead of the Games.
A massive operation aimed at vetting Games tourists and athletes is also under way.
Kirsch has a history of violent crime and was once a member of the right-wing National Action group before converting to Islam.
ASIO has raided his North Melbourne hostel – which looks after homeless people and released prisoners – on at least one occasion, in 2003 after Kirsch visited Afghanistan.
Federal agents will work with police and intelligence agencies from around the world, combing the visas and details of the thousands of athletes and tourists coming to Melbourne.
Lincoln Wright
05mar06
AN urgent anti-terror operation has been launched in Melbourne just 10 days before the Commonwealth Games begin.Senior intelligence sources said agents were watching known associates of suspects identified during the anti-terrorist sting, Operation Pendennis, which culminated in the arrest of 19 men in Melbourne and Sydney in December.
They have also targeted radical Islamic convert Gregory Middap, also known as Helmut Kirsch.
Security services are also monitoring Melbourne-based fundamentalist group Hizbut-Tahrir.
At the same time suspected terror cells are being investigated in Canberra and Perth.
And it has emerged that the Games security blitz – the biggest in Australia's history – will cost around $200 million as 2600 Australian Defence Force troops are deployed across Melbourne.
A contingent of SAS anti-terror troops and about 200 ASIO and Australian Federal Police agents have also deployed in Melbourne ahead of the Games.
A massive operation aimed at vetting Games tourists and athletes is also under way.
Kirsch has a history of violent crime and was once a member of the right-wing National Action group before converting to Islam.
ASIO has raided his North Melbourne hostel – which looks after homeless people and released prisoners – on at least one occasion, in 2003 after Kirsch visited Afghanistan.
Federal agents will work with police and intelligence agencies from around the world, combing the visas and details of the thousands of athletes and tourists coming to Melbourne.
posted by 10 men at 3:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home