Australian terror suspects charged

Australian police yesterday arrested 17 people, including a radical Muslim cleric, on charges of planning a terrorist attack and committing to "violent jihad in Australia" after raids in which one man was shot.

The suspected militant was in critical condition in hospital after early morning raids in Sydney and Melbourne, in which police seized chemicals, firearms, computers, backpacks and travel documents.

Police said the loose-knit group did not have a target, but was trying to buy chemicals similar to those used in the London bombings in July.

"I am satisfied that we have disrupted what I would regard as the final stages of a terrorist attack or the launch of a terrorist attack in Australia," said New South Wales state Police Commissioner Ken Moroney.

During a court appearance, police said Muslim cleric Abu Bakr, who called bin Laden a "great man" and defends Muslims fighting US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, was the spiritual leader of the group. He was remanded in custody until January 31.

The Melbourne court was told the men had engaged in military-like training in rural Australia and that one man had expressed a desire to become a "martyr" in Australia.

Prime Minister John Howard last week said Australia received intelligence about a "terrorist threat" and amended anti-terror laws making it easier for police to arrest suspects. Police said the new laws aided the counter-terrorism operation.

Victorian state Police Commissioner Christine Nixon told reporters the group did not have a target and specifically ruled out the Commonwealth Games, which are due to be held in Melbourne in March and opened by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

"But we had sufficient evidence these people were planning a significant attack," he said.

Australian media last week said that possible targets under police watch were the Sydney Opera House, the harbour bridge, oil refineries and stock exchange among others.

Australia, a staunch US ally with soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, has never suffered a major peacetime attack on home soil. The country has been on medium security alert since shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US.

Four Australians are awaiting trial in Sydney and Melbourne on terrorism charges, linked to supporting and training with banned groups such as al Qaeda.

Police raided houses in Sydney and Melbourne as part of the country's largest ever counter-terrorism operation involving hundreds of police, following a 16-month investigation.

Eight people were arrested in Sydney and nine in Melbourne, police said. Those arrested were charged with offences including acts in preparation of a terrorist attack, being a member of a terrorist group and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.

Prosecutor Richard Maidment told the Melbourne court that the men were committed to "violent jihad in Australia" and one had talked about becoming a suicide bomber. "There have been discussions about bomb making," he told the court.

The court was told the men had stolen cars to raise funds to buy firearms and chemicals. The Sydney group had tried to buy chemicals used in the London transport bombings and the Melbourne group had ordered chemical handling equipment.