Police fear freed Muslim extremists pose a threat

[Strongarm]

Police fear freed Muslim extremists pose a threat

Aimen Joud and Abdul Benbrika. Picture: Herald Sun Source: Herald Sun

TWO Muslim extremists who were accused of plotting a deadly terrorist attack are back on Melbourne's streets after being freed last week.

Police fear Aimen Joud and Ahmed Raad still pose a threat, as there is no sign their anti-Western beliefs changed in prison.
"Their radical and extreme views remain a concern," one investigating officer said yesterday.
"While local police will be aware of where they are living, and will keep an eye on them when they can, there is not the manpower to do it constantly."
Police Association secretary Greg Davies said it was disturbing that the pair were likely not to be watched around the clock.
Police secretly taped Joud and Raad laughing while watching and discussing sickening jihadi video footage of Muslim extremists beheading hostages and killing US soldiers.
Australian-born Joud, 27, and Raad, 28, were senior members of a homegrown terror cell run by Muslim cleric Abdul Benbrika.
They were freed eight days ago, after serving non-parole terms of just six years behind bars.
Both refused to talk to the Herald Sun.
In 2008, the Supreme Court heard they had refused to renounce extremist beliefs. Prosecutor Nick Robinson, SC, said they continued to "adhere to the philosophy of violent jihad".
Joud was heavily involved with NSW terror cell members in ordering or buying chemicals and equipment to make a bomb capable of killing hundreds of people.
Mooted targets of the Victorian and NSW terror cells included the MCG during the 2005 Grand Final, Sydney's Lucas Heights nuclear reactor, and Crown casino on Grand Prix weekend.
Joud and Raad were jailed for being members of a terrorist organisation and making funds available to it.
The prosecutor at the 2008 trial told the court that a terrorist act being plotted by their cell included "a bombing attack where maximum damage and loss of life could be inflicted, such as at a football ground or a railway station".
The pair, with Benbrika and Fadl Sayadi, 31, had also been facing trial for conspiring to commit a terrorist act, which carries a maximum sentence of life in jail.
But in September, a judge granted a permanent stay of the charges, ruling a second trial would be oppressive and an abuse of process.
Last year, NSW terror cell members were jailed for 23-28 years on the same charge over the same conspiracy, and on similar evidence.
The NSW judge said it was "clear beyond doubt" that Joud had placed an order in Melbourne for laboratory equipment that was to be used "for the making of explosive devices".
Joud and Raad were arrested in 2005 and jailed for eight years in 2008.
Sayadi was released earlier this year; Benbrika is due for release in November 2017.
A Victoria Police spokesman refused to say yesterday whether they would be watching Joud and Raad.
"We never comment on such matters," he said.

Read more: Police fear freed Muslim extremists pose a threat | News.com.au

[harrybarracuda]

Send them to Yemen to fight the jihad. I'm sure they'd love it.