Other Australian Terror Suspects That Have Been Arrested Include:
Zeky Mallah: One charge, of acts in preparation for terrorist acts, December 2003.
Izhar ul Haque: Sydney medical student, 21, arrested and charged with training with proscribed terrorist organisation on April 15, 2004.
Faheem Khalid Lodhi: Sydney architect, 34, arrested and charged with terrorism offences and making false or misleading statements on April 22, 2004.
Belal Khazaal: Former Qantas baggage handler from Sydney, 34. Arrested on June 2, 2004, on a terrorism-related offence and charged with knowingly collecting or making documents connected with preparation for, the engagement of a person in, or assistance in a terrorist act.
Jack Roche: Arrested on November 18, 2002 on charges of conspiracy to commit offences under the Crimes Act. Pleaded guilty and jailed for nine years in June. |
Joseph Terrence Thomas, 31, was arrested this morning by agents from the Australian Federal Police joint counter terrorism team at his home in Melbourne's west suburban Werribee. He was charged with receiving funds from terrorist organisation al-Qaeda, with providing support or resources to al-Qaeda and with possessing a false passport.
Bearded and wearing a black and white striped collarless shirt, Thomas made no comment during the brief hearing in the Melbourne Magistrate's Court before magistrate Lisa Hannan. He did not apply for bail and was remanded to appear again for a committal mention on February 10. He was not required to enter a plea. His lawyer indicated Thomas would apply for bail next week. Thomas is the first person to be charged with these specific offences since the introduction fo the Commonwealth counter terrorism legislation in 2002.
Police allege that between November 2002 and January 2003, in Karachi, Pakistan and elsewhere, Thomas intentionally received funds from al-Qaeda. The second count alleges that between July 2002 and January 2003, at Karachi, Thomas intentionally provided support or resources to al-Qaeda which would help the organisation, directly or indirectly to engage in preparing, planning or assisting in the carrying out of a terrorist act. The terrorism charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment, while the passport offences carry a maximum of two years imprisonment of a $5000 fine. Federal agents seized documents and computer equipment when they executed two search warrants this morning. "The man before the court today first came to our attention in January 2003, when he was detained in Pakistan," a federal police spokeswoman said. The former taxi driver and chef also known as Jack returned to Australia in June after being held in Pakistan for six months on suspicion of having terrorist connections. | Oh, this guy. We've heard about Jack before. They finally got him into court. |
After the Pakistani interior ministry revealed they were not charging him he returned to Australia and remained in hiding with his family. |