Australian police today detained four men suspected of planning to carry out a suicide terrorist attack on an army base. The four suspects are all Australian nationals of Lebanese or Somali descent and were arrested in dawn raids conducted by 400 security service officers in suburban areas of Melbourne.
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One suspect, Nayaf El Sayed, has been charged with conspiring to plan or prepare a terrorist attack targeting the Holsworthy Barracks on the outskirts of Sydney. Tony Negus, acting chief commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, believed the suspects were planning to use automatic weapons to conduct a "sustained attack on military personnel until they themselves were killed".
The suspects are said to have links to al-Shabab, a Somali group which is understood to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, and that members of the Melbourne group were actively seeking a fatwa or religious ruling to justify a terror attack on Australia. Australian security forces have been granted approval to extend the detention without charge of the remaining three suspects in order to question them further. A fifth man who was already in custody on an unrelated charge is also being questioned about the plot.
The toD verdict: Although its nationals have been victim to a number of terrorist attacks overseas, notably in Bali and Afghanistan, Australia has remained relatively secure from attacks on its own soil. Should it be proven that the four men detained on Tuesday were planning to carry out a suicide attack on army barracks, it would provide, as Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warned, a "sober reminder" of a growing threat to Australia's national security from within.
The threat may stem from Australia's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Australian nationals of Muslim background who are frustrated with the perceived injustices committed against Muslims in the two countries have joined extremist groups in protest against Australian foreign policy, a point voiced by Rudd. The Melbourne group are suspected by Australian Federal Police to have travelled to Somalia to participate in hostilities between the western backed transitional government and insurgent forces, and the plot uncovered today could be seen as evidence of al-Shabab extending its operations outside of the Horn of Africa. Analysts believe that the group is increasing its recruitment in diaspora communities in North America, Europe and Australia in an effort to become a trans-national network on an al-Qaeda model.
Rockets target embassy district in Kabul
Nine rockets fired by Taliban fighters exploded in several areas of Kabul today in the most serious attacks on the Afghan capital in recent years. Two of the rocket attacks, which took place at dawn on Tuesday morning, targeted the Wazir Akbar Khan diplomatic area which houses the British and US embassies and NATO's International Security Assistance Force's headquarters. Although the rockets failed to damage either of the embassies, a hospital situated close to the US embassy was struck. Rockets fell on several other areas of the city, causing damage to residential buildings and leaving one child wounded.
The attacks come weeks before the country's presidential elections which are due to take place on 20 August. Although other areas of the country have seen an increase in attacks in the run up to the elections, including the southern province of Zabul where five civilians were killed in a suicide attac this morning, Kabul has been viewed as a safe zone in recent months.
Troops called in to suppress anti-Christian riots in Pakistan
Government paramilitary troops are maintaining a presence in the Pakistani city of Gorja in an effort to restore peace after eight people were killed on Sunday's anti-Christian riots in the city. Violent protest broke out on Thursday after rumours circulated through the largely Muslim community that the Quran had been defaced by a Christian. After relative calm on Friday and Saturday, hundreds of Muslim's returned to the streets on Sunday, conducting arson attacks on the homes of known Christians resulting in the death of a child and four women. Shooting also broke out in which two men were killed. Pakistani officials believe the violence was instigated by Sipah-e-Sahaba (Army of the Friends of the Prophet), a Muslim organisation banned in Pakistan for its connections to al-Qaeda and history of terrorist violence.
Fatah vows to seek peace with Israel, but conference is overshadowed by Gazan non-attendance
Today is the opening of Fatah's sixth conference, the first since 1989, in which the party hopes to rejuvenate its message and tackle issues which divide its supporters. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and Fatah leader, opened the 2,000 strong conference by re-stating the party's wish to create a Palestinian state at peace with Israel, but also highlighting the Palestinian people's right to resistance under international law. His message aimed to ease internal divisions within the party on the issue of armed resistance, and it is hoped that the conference will tackle other issues, such as corruption and its approach to Hamas, which have caused local support for the party to wane. However, the conference has been overshadowed by Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip, blocking 400 Fatah members from leaving Gaza to attend the conference.
Clinton negotiates freedom of detained US journalists in North Korea
Former US President Bill Clinton will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to discuss the fate of two US journalists who were imprisoned after crossing into North Korea on 17 March. It is expected that Clinton will attempt to use the visit to resolve the crisis provoked by North Korea's nuclear armaments programme, an issue which has resulted in a hostile standoff between Kim Jong-il and US President Barack Obama. Although the White House claims nuclear proliferation issues are not the reason for the visit, it has been reported that North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye-gwan, was among those greeting Clinton.
Russia accuses Georgia of "provocations" close to South Ossetia anniversary
As the first anniversary of the war between Russia and Georgia approaches, tensions between the neighbouring states are rising rapidly.The Russian foreign ministry has claimed villages in the autonomous region of South Ossetia have been hit by Georgian mortar fire, while Georgia has accused Russia of moving its military outposts further into Georgian territory. Although EU monitors who are present in the region have not confirmed either claim, Russian troops and border guards have "stepped up" their combat readiness according to Andrei Nesterenko, a spokesman for Russia's Foreign Ministry. The situation is highly reminiscent of the beginnings of last year's war over South Ossetia, in which a Georgian assault on the autonomous region was violently repelled by Russia after months of enmity between the two countries.