Attack might have been planned for polling day 2004
SECURITY was stepped up around former prime minister John Howard after he was named in bugged conversations between members of Australia`s home-grown terror cell.
The Herald Sun reveals that taped conversations indicated Muslim cleric Abdul Benbrika`s terrorist organisation may have been planning an attack on polling day during the 2004 federal election.
Security was tightened around prime minister John Howard and other politicians as Australians voted around the nation.
Fears were held for Mr Howard in particular because various cell members had named him in bugged conversations.
The West Gate Bridge was one of several bombing targets for Benbrika and his home-grown Melbourne terror cell.
One of the most chilling conversations taped by police was between Benbrika terror network member Fadl Sayadi and an associate as they discussed destroying the West Gate Bridge.
They talked about having spoken to a person with knowledge of the bridge`s security.
"Yeah, you go under and you come right to where the big, need-to-hold-it-up part . . ." the associate said.
"You could bring down the West Gate."
Sayadi suggested it would be possible to snorkel or scuba dive under the bridge and plant "thingos underneath".
Yesterday`s two jury decisions in Australia`s biggest terrorism trial enables the Herald Sun to reveal details of the potential targets.
A Supreme Court jury yesterday found Amer Haddara, 29, of Yarraville, guilty of being a member of Benbrika`s terror cell but not guilty of possessing a computer connected with the preparation of a terrorist act.
But it failed to reach a verdict on Shane Kent, 31, of Meadow Heights, who was charged with being a terror cell member.
He is expected to face a retrial.
Benbrika and five of his cell members were this week found guilty of various terrorism charges and four other men were acquitted and freed after almost three years in jail.
Benbrika and five of his cell members were this week found guilty of various terrorism charges and four other men were acquitted and freed after almost three years in jail.
The verdicts also enable the Herald Sun to reveal:
• MELBOURNE taxi drivers charged only $10 to sell credit card details of passengers to Benbrika cell member Izzydeen Atik, who used them to commit frauds to aid the terrorist organisation.
• BENBRIKA cell members were seen by police near a remote Defence Department explosive and ammunition storage area on the Victoria-New South Wales border.
• THE threat of an imminent terrorist attack was considered so great that police chiefs Mick Keelty and Christine Nixon regularly briefed prime minister John Howard and Victorian premier Steve Bracks.
• INVESTIGATING Benbrika`s terror network for 16 months in 2004 and 2005 cost police more than $15 million.
• THE trial was nearly aborted after six months because at least one jury member ignored a direction from the judge not to use the internet to conduct research during the hearing.
• BENBRIKA tried to have the trial stopped by going on a hunger strike but the judge ruled it would continue without Benbrika if necessary because "that is a self-inflicted illness which will not be tolerated by the court".
• AHMED Merhi, the brother of would-be suicide bomber Abdullah Merhi, pleaded guilty to contempt of court during the trial after wearing an "Izzy is a Rat" T-shirt in court. The slogan referred to prosecution witness and confessed terrorist Izzydeen Atik.
Suppression orders lifted yesterday enable the Herald Sun to report for the first time that Atik has admitted being a member of Benbrika`s cell and providing resources to it.
Atik, 28, of Williamstown, testified against fellow cell members and was sentenced in August 2007 to a maximum jail term of five-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to the terror charges.
The sentence included a two-year cut for testifying against fellow cell members.
Atik`s minimum term of just over four years means he will be eligible for parole in December next year.
While the prosecution led evidence from Atik, the jury was not told Atik had already admitted his role in Benbrika`s terror cell and been sentenced over it.
Justice Bernard Bongiorno warned the jury there was a considerable cloud over Atik`s evidence.
He described Atik as a conman, liar and a fraud and said he was an unsatisfactory witness.
It was Atik who told police after his arrest in 2005 that Benbrika had nominated the MCG during the 2005 AFL Grand Final, football crowds during the 2006 NAB Cup and Crown casino as targets.
While that conversation was not recorded, police do have taped evidence of Benbrika cell members discussing the West Gate Bridge, Melbourne`s rail network and the 2004 federal election as possible targets.
Those convicted of being members of Benbrika`s cell, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, were Aimen Joud, 23, Fadl Sayadi, 28, Abdullah Merhi, 23, Amer Haddara, 29, and brothers Ahmed Raad, 25, and Ezzit Raad, 26.
Algerian-born Benbrika, 48, of Dallas, was also found guilty of directing the activities of the terrorist organisation, which could see him jailed for 25 years, and possessing a CD connected with the preparation of a terrorist act, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years.
Joud, Sayadi, Ahmed Raad and Ezzit Raad have also been convicted of other terrorism charges, which carry maximum 25-year sentences.
Justice Bongiorno yesterday praised the jury of nine women and three men and excused them from further jury selection for 20 years.
"It is very difficult to express the gratitude of the Australian community for what you have done," Justice Bongiorno said.
Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and ASIO formed a joint taskforce known as Operation Pendennis in July 2004 to investigate Benbrika and his terror cell.
