We Know Terror Suspects Here: Ruddock
Sun Herald
Sunday September 26, 2004
ASIO has been forced to confiscate the passports of more than one suspected terrorist, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said yesterday.
The revelation comes as the Federal Government is set to announce enhanced border and counter-terrorism initiatives and a new television campaign warning of the danger signs.Sydney butcher Kusmir Nesirwan was turned around at Sydney airport last Sunday by ASIO, who said he had significant involvement in Jemaah Islamiah. His lawyer, Stephen Hopper, said on Friday that claims Mr Nesirwan had terrorist links were "absolute rubbish".Mr Ruddock told The Sun-Herald yesterday that others had been grounded, although he refused to say how many."We do not give figures, the same as we don't give figures on the number of people who have trained offshore with terrorist organisations," he said."These are not matters we have publicised. There are a lot of activities of security agencies that occur from time to time that we don't refer to." The Federal Government launched a new phase of its national security information campaign last night with a series of television commercials urging people to look out for anything unusual or suspicious.Portraying Australia as a jigsaw puzzle, the advertisement promises that small pieces of information from the public can help the police and security forces in the fight against terrorism.Later this week Mr Ruddock and Customs Minister Chris Ellison will announce a multimillion-dollar package to fund new technologies and screening devices at points of entry to Australia.
© 2004 Sun Herald