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Chemicals stockpiled for 'jihad on Sydney'
NINE suspected terrorists allegedly stockpiled a cache of deadly chemicals as they plotted a "violent jihad" on Sydney. In what is being described as the biggest terror trial in Australia's history, Penrith Local Court yesterday heard for the first time detailed allegations against the nine alleged Muslim extremists. The men stand accused of plotting a massive terrorist attack on Sydney - with Lucas Heights nuclear plant the possible target. In her opening address, prosecutor Wendy Abraham QC claimed preparations for an attack involved chemical stockpiling, the collation of "extremist" documents and specialised terrorist training. The court heard documents written in Arabic showed step-by-step instructions on how to make deadly explosives such as TATP and HMTD. The materials were allegedly found during searches of their homes and vehicles, with one found hidden in a children's book called Choice Islamic Stories. Bradley Umar Sariff Baladjam, Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Mohamed Ali Elomar, Abdul Rakib Hasan, Mohammed Omar Jamal, Mirsad Mulahalilovic, Khaled Sharrouf and Mazen Touma faced court together for the first time since their arrest during ASIO raids in November 2005. The court heard Touma had told his mother he was about to enter paradise and that "Allah's satisfaction is more important than yours". "He (Touma) spoke of Allah giving him a paradise for martyrdom," Ms Abraham said. "It is alleged he said his mother should be patient because tomorrow her children would be in paradise." The Crown alleges the defendants each played a role in conspiring to prepare for a terrorist attack by equipping themselves with the "knowledge, ability and means to prepare and plan for a terrorist attack". "They believed Islam was under attack and and in defence of Islam and other Muslims ... the primary tool was violent jihad," Ms Abraham said. The defendants allegedly obtained or attempted to obtain chemicals and necessary items that could be used in the construction of explosives. These include 50 litres of hydrochloric acid, 200 litres of sulphuric acid and more than 60 litres of hydroperoxide. It is also alleged the group had large amounts of "extremist" and instructional material as well as firearms and ammunition used in SKS and AK47 semi-automatic weapons. The court heard how the men shopped at chemists, hardware stores and discount shops in Sydney and Melbourne for chemicals and items such as PVC piping. The committal hearing, expected to run for at least two months, continues today. Posted by: Fred 2007-03-09 |
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