Jihad Jack Thomas in Court

Terror suspect
Thomas was to inform al-Qaeda
By Kate Williams
March 22, 2005
Daily Telegraph

TERROR suspect 'Jihad Jack' Thomas trained with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan before September 11, 2001, and was asked to inform the terrorist network about military bases in Australia, a Melbourne court heard today.

Former taxi driver Joseph Terrence Thomas faced Melbourne Magistrates Court charged with a string of offences under Australia's recently introduced counter-terror laws.
The 31-year-old Muslim convert, who has not been required to enter a plea, has denied charges of receiving financial support from al-Qaeda, providing al-Qaeda with resources or support to carry out a terrorist attack, and having a false passport.
The diminutive and bearded father of two from Werribee sat in the courtroom on the first day of his committal hearing with his parents on either side of him.
The court heard that an al-Qaeda operative asked Thomas between November 2002 and January 2003 to return to Australia from Pakistan to do some work for the terror organisation's chief, Osama bin Laden.

Prosecutor Jeanette Morrish, QC, said Thomas was told "to look at military installations".
When asked why, Thomas replied: "Location. Where are they?" Ms Morrish said.
Thomas had also told police al-Qaeda's objectives were to "make America change its ways" through the use of force, Ms Morrish said.
When asked if al-Qaeda was a terrorist organisation, Thomas had replied: "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
But Thomas had also said he did not agree with the organisation's methods, Ms Morrish said.
A recent hearing was told that Thomas made several admissions during an interview in March 2003 with Australian Federal Police in Pakistan while he was detained on suspicion of having terrorist connections.
The prosecution alleges Thomas had attended an al-Qaeda training camp at Al Farooq in Afghanistan before September 11, 2001, where he saw Osama bin Laden on a number of occasions.
He then travelled to Pakistan and stayed in several al-Qaeda safe houses where he overheard conversations regarding a plot to bring down a jet carrying a Pakistani president with a rocket launcher and discussed a plan to break a detainee out of US custody at Guantanamo Bay.
It is also alleged that an al-Qaeda associate gave Thomas $3,500 and an airline ticket for Australia and told him to go back to work when he returned to Australia, maintain a cover and then make contact in six to 12 months, the court heard.
His passport was altered to disguise the fact that he had been in Pakistan for an- extended period, it is alleged.
The hearing before Magistrate Lisa Hannan, which has been closed to the public for security reasons, is continuing.
AAP
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