It was all a misunderstanding, but he used a fake ID to obtain the explosives -- "more than 10 times the quantity used in the 2005 London terrorist bombings." From the Sydney Morning Herald, with thanks to David:
JOHN HOWARD AMUNDSEN said it was all a misunderstanding: that the explosives he stockpiled in the home he shares with his elderly mother were to be used as special effects in a TV production.But the discovery of four homemade bombs, one packed with razor blades and nails, had police puzzled last night.
Counter-terrorism officers around the country were conferring on how Amundsen was able to buy 53 kilograms of the mining explosive Powergel.
The high school teacher, 40, told a Brisbane magistrate he made the bombs for use in an unnamed television production.
Police bomb squad experts had spent the previous night removing the explosives and the crude bombs from his home at Aspley, a northern suburb of Brisbane.
Amundsen, a metalwork and woodwork teacher at Ferny Grove High and former teacher in media studies, emphatically denied he was a terrorist. The former television cameraman said he held one of the country's highest security clearances, granted by ASIO after heavy background screening. He claimed to have access to secure areas of Brisbane Airport.
The magistrate, Lindy Bradford-Morgan, refused Amundsen bail on the basis he was a risk to public safety and adjourned the case until today.
Police will not rule out the possibility that four bombs and 10 detonators allegedly found at Amundsen's home were being stockpiled for a terrorist attack.
Police also allegedly found a book entitled Bin Laden: Behind the Mask of a Terrorist.
Now there is no word yet, and may never be given the proclivities of the mainstream media, about whether or not Amundsen is a Muslim. If he is, this may be another example of the freelance jihadism we saw with Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar. If he isn't, it is a sign that the bloodlust of jihadism has crossover appeal to non-Muslim psychopaths.
"The former television cameraman said he held one of the country's highest security clearances, granted by ASIO after heavy background screening. He claimed to have access to secure areas of Brisbane Airport."
And this is a defence? If you were a terrorist would you not want to gain that clearance? And what kind of special effect needs razor blades in the explosive? And he has access to children, able to direct their ideas. Sounds like a terrorist to me.
"But the discovery of four homemade bombs, one packed with razor blades and nails, had police puzzled last night."
C'mon now Robert, there you go again with your reactionary hyperbole, seeing Muslims in every aberration. Everybody knows that special effects guys use oodles of razor blades and nails in their explosives.
Some pics here:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bin-laden-in-the-classroom/2006/05/10/1146940613219.html
I am no terrorists, just ignore the hand made bombs, there are just props.
Tell a whooper enough times and the MSM will believe it.
At least 96 dead, 200 wounded in four days of fighting for control of Mogadishu as ceasefire collapses
May 10, 2006, 8:55 PM (GMT+02:00)
The ceasefire declared Tuesday night between the Somali militias held for no more than a few hours before the fighting spread Wednesday to another neighborhood of the capital. . Islamist gunmen and the powerful warlords formed into the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism and vying for control of the capital, impeding emergency food supplies for two million starving Somalis. Most of the victims were civilians caught in the crossfire. The U.N. secretary general's special representative, Francois Lonseny Fall, appealed to leaders on both sides "to step back from the brink.”
You can't even buy over the counter cold medication without signing for it.
How could you get explosives just on a security clearance? Even in Australia?
man in his 40s living with his elderly mother. enough to make anyone crazy.
yes it is 1938 all over again......US peace activists arrive in Iran
About 22 American and one British peace activists arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to voice their opposition to a possible military confrontation over Iran's nuclear activities.
An Iranian radio station said the activists who belong to different faiths brought with them peace letters from thousands of US citizens. Iranian officials failed to show up to welcome the activists. (Dudi Cohen)
A re-run of the Runciman Mission.
fly thousands of miles to kiss butt,and they dont show....i love it
From the article that Yojimbo linked:
I would be slightly interested to know what his neighbors said he was agitated about. The Osama Bin Laden biography is a nice touch, though.
"But the discovery of four homemade bombs, one packed with razor blades and nails, had police puzzled last night." Puzzled, PUZZLED? Hey, two plus two is four.
Today's nutty, lonely, mommas boy is often enough tommorow's terrorist. Break out the straight jacket and the halidol. This boy needs a long vacation in a padded room
More reports (and court picture of accused) can be found here:
http://thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19095832-952,00.html
http://thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19096230-3102,00.html
Perhaps he was just after a free trip to Sydney in a Lear jet?
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/011324.php#comments
Isn't that Bin Laden thing written from a western perspective? It's entirely possible that he is angry with Islamists, not with them against the West....just a thought
Freewoman wrote:
"You can't even buy over the counter cold medication without signing for it.How could you get explosives just on a security clearance? Even in Australia?"
It's not all beer and skittles over here Freewoman. Just a few days ago I went to the local hardware store to buy an economy size sack of weapons grade plutonium and the sales assistant appeared to be a little hesitatant.
I had to assure her it was only to be used for peaceful purposes before she agreed to the transaction. Yes, things are getting a bit tighter over here.
OneEyedJack,
It needs to be remebered that we do not have all of the information regardinging the motives in this case. However, it is already quite disturbing. 4 explosives already prepared, some containing shrapnel, 53kg of high level explosives and 10 remote detonators combined with the fact this guy is/was a teacher and these materials were kept in a residential property is enough for me to be glad this guy is not continuing with his activities, whatever his motive were.
Ozi_bloke,
Funny stuff but Freewoman does have a point about the increase in regulations ranging from medicines (generally when used in production of illegal drugs) to dangerous chemicals. It was because of these checks that although the explosives were obtained, the fraudulent documents used were discovered and authorities became involved.
Latest:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19101609-29277,00.html
The Lawyer:
He said there was a "completely plausible and non-nefarious explanation for the circumstances in which he finds himself" but would not elaborate.
Also:
Suppression orders relating to an alleged missing amount of explosives and on details about how the bombs were allegedly built were lifted
Back in court May 18.
Robert
Is it possible that this guy was an anti-muslim terrorist making ready to take matters into his own hands - or is there any evidence that he was a follower of islam??
I have often pondered why there has in effect been no violent backlash from any western group directed at the Jihadis amongst us.
Has the anti muslim backlash begun ? One begins to wonder since this guy did not have a kuran.
He is now no longer just being charged with fraud. Terrorism charges have been laid.
"act done in preparation for terrorist acts, using a carriage service to make a threat, and using a carriage service for a hoax threat"
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19102159-421,00.html
About 22 American peace activists arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to ... Iranian radio said the activists belong to different faiths
I would say that the leftist ideology of the "peace activists" is not much different from the leftist ideology of the Iranian Islamo-fascists.
different faiths? I doubt it!