Sydney terrorist suspects reportedly possessed chemicals

The Sydney division of an alleged Islamic terror network had stockpiled enough chemicals to make at least 15 large bombs, as police examined evidence seized in raids earlier this week.

The eight suspects, arrested in Sydney Tuesday and charged with conspiracy to manufacture explosives for a terrorist attack, had registered a series of company names to justify buying large quantities of industrial chemicals, The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper said.

According to the report the group needed only common household chemicals available at local hardware stores to replicate the type of bombs used in the July 7 suicide attacks on London's public transport system that killed 52 people and the four bombers.

Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty cast doubt on the report, while Attorney-General Philip Ruddock confirmed bomb ingredients were seized in the raids.

"My understanding of the evidence is that some of the product had been actually purchased, others had been ordered," Ruddock told ABC radio. "The intelligence assessment is that this was an enterprise designed to manufacture a very large quantity of explosives."

Federal lawmakers were expected to begin debating Prime Minister John Howard's proposed new anti-terrorism laws during Thursday's sitting of parliament.

The legislation would let authorities hold terror suspects without charge for two weeks and monitor them with electronic tracking devices for up to a year.

Victoria state Police acting Deputy Commissioner Noel Ashby said Wednesday that police and security agencies were examining evidence - including computers, documents and chemicals - and may file more charges against nine men arrested in Melbourne and eight in Sydney.

Prosecutors said the Sydney and Melbourne terror cells were led by Algerian-born firebrand cleric Abu Bakr, 45, who was among those arrested, the AP reports.

Photo: The Herald Sun

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