Abdul Nacer Benbrika, Abdulla, Ahmed, Aiman, etc and their Terrorism plan

The Melbourne suspects

Age: 21 Born: Australia Family: Parents migrated from Lebanon in 1980. Was two when his mother died giving birth to fourth child. Background: Questioned by police in June, he has been convicted of firearms and theft charges. Attended a Catholic school and an Islamic college. Left school at 16.

Abdulla Merhi. The Melbourne suspects
Aiman Joud
Age: 21
Born: Australia
Family: Parents migrated from Lebanon in 1980. Was two when his
mother died giving birth to fourth child.
Background: Questioned by police in June, he has been convicted of firearms and theft charges. Attended a Catholic school and an Islamic college. Left school at 16. Worked in a city computer shop for three years before helping his father build shopping centres. Described by father as a
hardworking, obedient son who did not drink or take drugs – a son
who prayed at the mosque.
Hany Taha
Age: 31
Family: Married with three children.
Background: Australian-Lebanese. Taha moved this year into a modest weatherboard house with his family. From a large Lebanese migrant family. Works closely with older brother Abdul and other relatives at the family panel-beating business. Police alleged Taha ran a vehicle rebirthing operation from the premises to help fund the terrorist cell’s operations. Believed to have become fervent in his faith about five years ago.
Abdul Nacer Benbrika
Age: 45
Born: Algeria. Arrived in Australia on May 16, 1989.
Family: Married Lebanese-born Rakia Abdullah in 1992. Six children.
Background: Previously an Algerian Airlines electrical technician. Accused of being the spiritual and organisational leader of terrorist cells in Melbourne and Sydney. The cleric has defended Osama bin Laden as a “great man”. Sparked protest this year when he defended the right of Australian Muslims to fight coalition troops in Iraq.
Shane Gregory Kent
Age: 28
Born: Australia
Family: Married to Eman, with two children.
Background: Unemployed Muslim convert. Was a student of Benbrika and sought his advice before travelling to Pakistan in 2001 and attending an al-Qaeda training camp. Believed to have undertaken a multimedia TAFE course last year. Known by his adopted name, Yasin.
Amer Haddara
Age: 26
Born: Melbourne
Family: Son of Lebanese migrants. Has a twin sister and teenage sister.
Background: A determined, business-minded man, Haddara set up a travel agency offering pilgrimages to Mecca. At the time of his arrest, he was working for a recruitment agency. Known as a snappy dresser who often wore smart suits, Haddara earned a degree in computer science from Victoria University. A volunteer computer technician at the Royal Institute for the Blind.
Abdulla Merhi
Age: 20
Born: Australia
Family: Recently married. His wife is expecting their first child.
Background: Family came to Australia in 1977 from a small, poor Lebanese village. The apprentice electrician was identified in court as wanting to become a martyr for Islam. He was denied bail on Tuesday and is being held in maximum security. Said to be “one of those, particularly in the month of Ramadan … who came to Ramadan services, if not every night, every second night” at the local mosque.
Ahmed Raad
Age: 22
Born: Australia, of Lebanese parents.
Family: Married last year. His wife is expecting their first child.
Background: Attended high school with Ezzit Raad and Fadal Sayadi before leaving in year 11. A former plumbing apprentice, he planned to start an internet importing business. Became a practising Muslim a year ago. Accused of being the treasurer of the Melbourne terrorist group.
Ezzit Raad
Age: 23
Born: Australia, of Lebanese parents.
Family: Married with toddler daughter.
Background: An electrician, he is the elder brother of Ahmed Raad. Duo went to high school with Fadal Sayadi. Worshipped at Preston Mosque. Neighbours say they often saw cars outside his unit, but describe him as a quiet man. He and Ahmed are close they played cards and watched DVDs.
Fadal Sayadi
Age: 25
Family: Married. Lebanese parents.
Background: Went to high school with Raad brothers. Has reportedly attended the radical Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah mosque in Brunswick, Melbourne, led by Sheik Mohammed Omran. Pleaded guilty this week to attempted theft by deception this year. Fined $350. In June, ASIO raided parents’ home, where he was living. Neighbours say the parents have lived in the street for about 20 years. “They never caused any trouble,” one neighbour said.

Wayback Machine

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7.30

The Coalition and One Nation are now both vowing to slash the tobacco excise whilst Labor has been steadily hiking the excise.