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| Down Under |
| Australian terror jury sees blast video |
| 2008-04-30 |
| A jury has seen secret video of an undercover policeman setting off an explosion while the alleged leader of a Melbourne terror cell watches. The policeman, known only as Security Intelligence Officer 39, said he travelled to Mt Disappointment by car with Abdul Nacer Benbrika for the explosives demonstration. He said he had been provided with Nitroprill explosive, a stick of gelagnite and detonators by Victoria Police Special Operations Group. Operative SIO39, who gave his evidence to the Supreme Court from a secure location by audio, said that in the weeks leading up to the explosion on October 6, 2004 he had a number of conversations with Mr Benbrika and other memebers of the alleged home-grown terror cell. He was known to the group as 'Ahmet Sonmez' and he had been provided with a cover story for his meetings with members of the group. Operative SIO39 told the court he inflitrated the alleged terror group and told Mr Benbrika his job involved removing tree stumps using explosives. Under cross examination from Remy van de Wiel, QC, for Mr Benbrika, SIO39 said he was warned by Mr Benbrika to be careful where he stored his explosives. Mr Benbrika told him the homes of some of the "brothers" had been raided but SIO39 reassured him by saying the explosives were stored at his employer's premises. SIO39 said in one conversation Mr Benbrika told him he would not encourage any act of terrorism in Australia. Mr Benbrika said that this was because there was a a treaty between the Australian Government and the Australian people and those Muslims who had been given asylum here, the undercover operative told the court. The operative confirmed to Mr van de Wiel that in another conversation Mr Benbrika discussed the amount of explosives that would be needed to blow up a house. On trial before Justice Bernard Bongiorno are: Mr Benbrika of Dallas, Shane Kent, 31, Meadow Heights, Majed Raad, 23, Coburg, Abdullah Merhi, 22, Fawkner, Aimen Mr Joud, 23, Hoppers Crossing, Ahmed Raad, 24, Fawkner, Fadl Sayadi, 28, Coburg, Ezzit Raad, 26, Preston, Hany Taha, 33, Hadfield, Shoue Hammoud, 28, Hadfield, Bassam Raad, 26, Brunswick and Amer Haddara, 28, Yarraville. They face charges that include intentionally being members of a terrorist organisation involved in the fostering or preparation of a terrorist act. The trial is expected to continue tomorrow. |
| Posted by:ryuge |