This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6706701.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Sydney terror accused deny guilt | Sydney terror accused deny guilt |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Nine men arrested in Australia's largest counter-terrorism operation have pleaded not guilty to charges of plotting an attack in Sydney. | Nine men arrested in Australia's largest counter-terrorism operation have pleaded not guilty to charges of plotting an attack in Sydney. |
The men, who are all Muslims, are accused of allegedly planning an attack to advance a "political, religious or ideological cause". | |
Their lawyers insist they are innocent, and that chemicals found at their homes were for household or industrial use. | Their lawyers insist they are innocent, and that chemicals found at their homes were for household or industrial use. |
Their trial is set to begin in February 2008. | |
If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison. | |
'Chemical stockpile' | 'Chemical stockpile' |
Some of the men wore Islamic dress in court. | Some of the men wore Islamic dress in court. |
They smiled and waved to supporters amid tight security at New South Wales Supreme Court, in Sydney, but refused to stand to enter their pleas for religious reasons. | They smiled and waved to supporters amid tight security at New South Wales Supreme Court, in Sydney, but refused to stand to enter their pleas for religious reasons. |
Earlier this year, prosecutors accused the men of stockpiling chemicals that can be used to make bombs and downloading bomb-making instructions from the internet. | Earlier this year, prosecutors accused the men of stockpiling chemicals that can be used to make bombs and downloading bomb-making instructions from the internet. |
Profile: Abdul Nacer Benbrika | Profile: Abdul Nacer Benbrika |
The suspects were allegedly devotees of radical Muslim cleric, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr, who is sympathetic to Osama bin Laden. | The suspects were allegedly devotees of radical Muslim cleric, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr, who is sympathetic to Osama bin Laden. |
The nine - Mohammed Ali Elomar, Mazen Touma, Abdul Rakib Hasan, Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Khaled Sharrouf, Mirsad Mulahalilovic, Omar Baladjam and Mohammed Jamal - were arrested in a series of pre-dawn raids in Sydney and Melbourne in November 2005. | The nine - Mohammed Ali Elomar, Mazen Touma, Abdul Rakib Hasan, Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Khaled Sharrouf, Mirsad Mulahalilovic, Omar Baladjam and Mohammed Jamal - were arrested in a series of pre-dawn raids in Sydney and Melbourne in November 2005. |
Police have accused them of trying to inflict maximum damage in Australia as part of a holy war because they believed their religion was under attack. | Police have accused them of trying to inflict maximum damage in Australia as part of a holy war because they believed their religion was under attack. |
Among the alleged targets was Australia's only nuclear research reactor, on the outskirts of Sydney. | Among the alleged targets was Australia's only nuclear research reactor, on the outskirts of Sydney. |
The men were detained after the Australian government passed new anti-terrorism legislation that making it easier to prosecute suspects allegedly involved in the early stages of planning an attack. | The men were detained after the Australian government passed new anti-terrorism legislation that making it easier to prosecute suspects allegedly involved in the early stages of planning an attack. |
Previous version
1
Next version