'Jihad Jack' Roche Faces Perth Court

An Australian Muslim convert plotted to bomb diplomatic missions in Australia was recruited and trained by al-Qaeda, a Perth court has been told.

Prosecutors told the jury that Jack Roche, 50, travelled to Afghanistan to meet with Osama Bin Laden and his deputies in March 2000.

He was instructed to form a terror cell to blow up Israel's consulate in Sydney and its embassy in Canberra.

Roche, who is an Australian citizen, denies the charges.

Roche's lawyer has insisted his client is innocent and rejects violence.

Roche faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison if convicted.   more > >

British Prisoner Abuse Photo's '100% FAKE !!!'

There was "quiet satisfaction" at the Lancashire Army regiment at the centre of allegations over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners after the Daily Mirror apologised for printing false pictures.

The paper's editor Piers Morgan quit amid mounting pressure on him and the newspaper.

Speaking outside the Preston headquarters of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, Colonel David Black, a former Commanding Officer, spoke of "quiet satisfaction" at the departure of Mr Morgan.   more > >

Muslims Spit Dummy as KISS Give Islam a Tongue Lashing

KISS bass player Gene Simmons has caused an uproar among Australia's Muslim community by launching an attack on Islamic culture while in Melbourne.

The lizard-tongued rock god who is touring Australia with the world's most enduring glam rock band launched an attack on Muslim extremists during an interview on Melbourne's 3AW radio.

"Extremism believes that it's okay to strap bombs on to your children and send them to paradise and whatever else and to behead people," he said.   more > >

Aussie Bomb Hoaxer Jailed

A man was sentenced to 30 months in prison today for making a hoax bomb call to Sydney Airport, Australias major international gateway, the Government said.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison said the sentence should serve as a warning that authorities will clamp down on such hoaxes.   more > >

Senseless and Brutal

Fanaticism has revealed its most brutal face again with the beheading of 26-year-old American Nick Berg, a civilian in Iraq whose purpose was to help rebuild the nation.

War is ugly and horrific and often blighted by atrocities.

Shortly before committing US troops to Iraq, President George W. Bush said: "If War is forced upon us, we will fight in a just cause and by just means – sparing, in every way we can, the innocent."

There is a big difference in the tragedy of innocent deaths in War and those who are butchered in pre-arranged executions such as journalist Daniel Pearl or last month's murder of Italian hostage Fabrizio Quattrocchi.   more > >

Terror Threat to Olympic Visitors

A Greek extremist group called the Revolutionary Struggle has threatened visitors to the Olympic Games, adding to security woes just three months out from the start of the event.

The warning came after makeshift bombs exploded at a Greek bank in an Athens suburb, and another explosive device was found at a nearby British bank.   more > >

Evil Jihad Jerk Bids to Out-Do Osama

Abu Musab Zarqawi, the one-legged Jordanian behind the horrific beheading of a U.S. hostage, has emerged as one of the most dangerous Terrorists in the world - and could soon eclipse Osama bin Laden in importance.

The slaughter of American Nick Berg was just the latest in a massive series of bloody and spectacular attacks on U.S. and Western interests in Iraq and Europe that have been attributed to the shadowy al-Tawhid network commanded by Zarqawi.

With bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, on the run, Zarqawi, who operates separately from al Qaeda, has increasingly taken up the global Jihad banner.   more > >

Aus Terror: Car Bomb 'Most Likely'

In the language of Terrorism, they're called VBIEDs and any major Terror attack in Australia will most likely involve one, Terrorism expert Clive Williams believes.

A VBIED is a vehicle-born improvised explosive device – a carbomb – which when delivered by suicide bombers have proved devastatingly effective in overseas attacks in Bali, Iraq, Lebanon and East Africa.   more > >

Tougher Terror Law for Opera House

Anyone found trespassing around the Sydney Opera House with the intention of damaging the national icon could face seven years' jail under new Anti-Terrorism Laws.

NSW Police Minister John Watkins will introduce legislation into the Parliament making trespassing at the Opera House punishable by up to two years' jail and fines of up to $Aus 22,000.   more > >

Security Guards 'Can't Handle Ports'

Experts say private security guards at Australia's ports may be ill-prepared and ill-equipped to deal with a Terrorist threat and need specialist training.

Former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) officer Ian Shaw cautioned against the stereotypical "big thick security guard from Chubb" being the first line of Defence against a Terrorist threat.   more > >