Man linked with terror plot faces court

13 Sep 2012, 9:11 pm   -   Source: AAP

A man accused of collecting documents to facilitate terrorist acts has faced court after a series of police raids in Melbourne's southeast.

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A man has been charged with collecting documents linked with the preparation of a terrorist act as police raids continued in Melbourne.

Adnan Karabegovic, 23, of Officer, was on Thursday charged with four counts of collecting documents connected with the preparation for the engagement of a person in or assistance in a terrorist act.

He was arrested during raids on 11 properties on Wednesday that allegedly uncovered a USB memory stick containing what police described as violent extremist materials, computer equipment and guns.

Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police raided a 12th property in the city on Thursday searching for weapons, computer gear and terrorism-related documents.

Karabegovic made no application for bail during a brief appearance in Melbourne Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody to appear again on December 6.

He refused to stand when asked by Deputy Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic at the end of the hearing, but Ms Popovic told him: "It does not bother me in the least."

No details of what Karabegovic is alleged to have done were put before the court.

The properties raided on Wednesday included the Al-Furqan Islamic Information Centre in Springvale, which other Muslim leaders say is on the fringes of their community.

One leader of the centre, however, had told followers three weeks before the raids that they were being watched, pointing to dozens of text messages he said exposed an undercover officer.

"We have clear evidence that he is a spy," Al-Furqan leader Abu Talha said in an address posted online.

Photos of the suspected spy's text messages from his smart phone reveal how he was passing on details of prayer meetings and attendees.

While an AFP spokesman declined to comment on the spying allegations, a counter-terrorism expert said the claims were credible and can explain why police raids have resulted in only one arrest.

"It's clear their hand was forced," Professor Greg Barton of Monash University said of the police operation.

"I don't think we're looking at a terrorist cell or any plan afoot, but rather they are looking at a group that is outrageous, so they were put under surveillance as part of their due diligence."

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said there is no immediate risk to the community from the Al-Furqan Islamic Information Centre or anyone caught up in the anti-terrorism raids.

"Not an immediate risk, people in the community need not fear for their safety today or tomorrow," Ms Roxon told ABC's 7.30 Report.

"What is clear though is that the police have uncovered people with a serious intent to cause harm ... people who have got material and are or were preparing to use that material in some way for a violent or terrorist attack."

Asked if the emergency powers of ASIO and police powers were too broad, the minister said they were under review.

Ms Roxon was also asked if she thought that people understood ASIO could now be questioning someone in secret without charge, and that person could be jailed for not answering questions and have their right to a lawyer blocked.

She said the average person would not want it applied to them, but it was only applied in special circumstances and with protections and oversight.

Those laws are not under review, Ms Roxon said.

But telecommunications powers were being reviewed, with powers possibly to be expanded, requiring internet service providers to keep information for up to two years.

The state's main Muslim body, the Islamic Council of Victoria, said it had been briefed by police about the operation but the group being investigated was not a member and had only a handful of followers.

Islamic preacher Sheikh Haron had led a group of followers away from a Noble Park mosque about 10 years ago to found the Al-Furqan centre, although his current whereabouts are unknown.

Imam Ibrahim Omerdic, of the Noble Park mosque, said he was worried the police raids would marginalise the entire Islamic community.

"Maybe they find nothing, and from one stupid man, everyone will (be) poisoned," he said.

Karabegovic was taken to hospital on Thursday morning after complaining of abdominal pains but his lawyer, Marcus Dempsey, told the court his client had no custody management problems.

When asked by Ms Popovic about his level of English, Mr Dempsey said Karabegovic had been living in Australia since he was seven.

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