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'Melbourne terror group talked of assassinating John Howard'
By Mike Hedge
February 19, 2008 03:11pm
Court hears terror group talked of killing Howard
Discussed 'forcing Aussie troops out of Iraq'
Alleged plan for terror act before federal election
MEMBERS of a Melbourne-based terrorist group discussed killing John Howard while he was prime minister, the Victorian Supreme Court was told today.
Prosecutor Richard Maidment SC told the court the possibility of killing Mr Howard arose during a religious lesson delivered by the group's leader Abdul Nacer Benbrika to one of his followers, Abdullah Merhi in September 2004.
Mr Benbrika and Mr Merhi are among 12 men on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court on charges of being members of a terrorist organisation and providing resources to a terrorist organisation.
Mr Maidment said that in a secretly recorded conversation, Mr Merhi had sought Mr Benbrika's advice on what kind of retribution was specified in the Koran.
Reading from the transcript, Mr Maidment told the jury Mr Merhi had asked: "If John Howard kills innocent families ... Muslims, do we have to kill him?"
No specific answer was offered to the jury.
Troop withdrawal
Mr Merhi also asked if an attack on the Australian government would be wrong if such an attack was aimed at achieving the withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq.
Mr Benbrika again failed to give a direct reply but told Mr Merhi that whatever he might say, he was only passing on Allah's teaching.
"When I show you something, it's not my opinion, it's what Allah said," Mr Benbrika says on a tape played to the jury.
Mr Merhi had gone to Mr Benbrika to seek guidance on whether he should travel overseas to fight in a holy war, or jihad, the court was told.
Recorded conversations
In their secretly recorded conversation, Mr Benbrika told him there is no need and that he should stay in Australia and conduct jihad here.
Mr Benbrika suggests that the group should "do a big thing".
"You shouldn't just kill one, two or three," he says in the recording played to the jury.
Federal election
In a later conversation, also in September 2004, Mr Benbrika's lieutenant in the group, Aimen Joud, urged the leader to instigate something before the federal election due the following month.
"Bring the tools, sheikh," he said in another secretly recorded conversation.
"Before the election, we'll do something."
Mr Maidment told the jury the conversations were clear discussions on committing a terrorist act in Australia.
The trial before Justice Bernard Bongiorno is continuing.
'Melbourne terror group talked of assassinating John Howard'
By Mike Hedge
February 19, 2008 03:11pm
Court hears terror group talked of killing Howard
Discussed 'forcing Aussie troops out of Iraq'
Alleged plan for terror act before federal election
MEMBERS of a Melbourne-based terrorist group discussed killing John Howard while he was prime minister, the Victorian Supreme Court was told today.
Prosecutor Richard Maidment SC told the court the possibility of killing Mr Howard arose during a religious lesson delivered by the group's leader Abdul Nacer Benbrika to one of his followers, Abdullah Merhi in September 2004.
Mr Benbrika and Mr Merhi are among 12 men on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court on charges of being members of a terrorist organisation and providing resources to a terrorist organisation.
Mr Maidment said that in a secretly recorded conversation, Mr Merhi had sought Mr Benbrika's advice on what kind of retribution was specified in the Koran.
Reading from the transcript, Mr Maidment told the jury Mr Merhi had asked: "If John Howard kills innocent families ... Muslims, do we have to kill him?"
No specific answer was offered to the jury.
Troop withdrawal
Mr Merhi also asked if an attack on the Australian government would be wrong if such an attack was aimed at achieving the withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq.
Mr Benbrika again failed to give a direct reply but told Mr Merhi that whatever he might say, he was only passing on Allah's teaching.
"When I show you something, it's not my opinion, it's what Allah said," Mr Benbrika says on a tape played to the jury.
Mr Merhi had gone to Mr Benbrika to seek guidance on whether he should travel overseas to fight in a holy war, or jihad, the court was told.
Recorded conversations
In their secretly recorded conversation, Mr Benbrika told him there is no need and that he should stay in Australia and conduct jihad here.
Mr Benbrika suggests that the group should "do a big thing".
"You shouldn't just kill one, two or three," he says in the recording played to the jury.
Federal election
In a later conversation, also in September 2004, Mr Benbrika's lieutenant in the group, Aimen Joud, urged the leader to instigate something before the federal election due the following month.
"Bring the tools, sheikh," he said in another secretly recorded conversation.
"Before the election, we'll do something."
Mr Maidment told the jury the conversations were clear discussions on committing a terrorist act in Australia.
The trial before Justice Bernard Bongiorno is continuing.