French terror suspect had photos of nuclear reactor in Sydney flat

[Missouri Mule]

French terror suspect had photos of nuclear reactor in Sydney flat Tuesday, 11-Nov-2003 2:50AM

PARIS, Nov 11 (AFP) - Australian police have uncovered pictures of a nuclear reactor and a list of bomb-making components in the apartment of a French man suspected of planning terror attacks in Sydney, French radio reported Tuesday.

Europe 1 radio reported the find in the flat of Willie Virgile Brigitte, who was deported last month, as Australian police said they had sent a team of agents to France to interrogate the suspected Islamic militant.

The radio station did not identify the nuclear reactor shown in the photographs, but said the list of bomb-making materials uncovered in Brigitte's apartment were for explosives typically used by the al-Qaeda network.

Brigitte, 35, has been held by French counter-terrorism authorities in a prison outside Paris since he was deported on October 17, after France warned he could have been in Australia for "terror-related reasons".

Media reports have speculated Brigitte was setting up an al-Qaeda sleeper cell, passing on bomb-making skills and considering the possibility of attacking the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor, on Sydney's southern outskirts..l

(snip)

http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/at/Qaustralia-france-attacks.Raq-_DNB.html

[Simon666]

A quick Google search learned he had been already arrested on October 9 while your article is from November 11. There is no mentioning of any pics of nuclear power plants, only of breaching tourist visa. If he had, I think the Aussies would have charged him. I highly doubt that claim.

===========================================

Who is Willie Virgile Brigitte? (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/29/1067233223103.html?from=storyrhs)

Who is Willie Virgile Brigitte?
Willie Virgile Brigitte is a 35-year-old French national who, according to French radio station Europe 1, was born on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, but later in life converted to Islam and relocated to Paris. The station said that Brigitte preferred to be called Abderrahman.

Why might Western intelligence services be interested in Brigitte?
Radio station Europe said that Brigitte had, after September 11, 2001, been asked to go to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban. There he allegedly became involved with Al Qaeda-linked militants who put him in Punjab valley training camps.

What other training was Brigitte allegedly involved in?
A French official - speaking to Agence France Presse on the condition of anonymity - said on October 27 that Brigitte used Fontainbleu Forest outside Paris to help train fighters for Afghanistan.

Why were the Australian authorities suspicious of Willie Virgile Brigitte?
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said France warned Australian authorities on September 22 that Brigitte had trained with terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan and was now living in Australia. On October 7, it increased its warning, he said, with French authorities allegedly fearful that Brigitte was in Australia in connection with terrorist-related activity.

According to the Europe 1 radio station, Brigitte had been ordered to go to Australia to shelter another man who was an expert in explosives.

Are there any specific allegations against him?
The French judiciary claims that Brigitte may have played a role in the assassination of Afghanistan's former Northern Alliance commander, Ahmed Shah Massoud, days before September 11, 2001. Massoud was killed by a bomb hidden in a French-supplied television camera that was being used by two suicide bombers during a bogus press conference in his Kabul office. A French judicial source told Reuters that Mr Brigitte had been accused of supplying the two Belgian passports used by the assassins, an Algerian and a Tunisian.

How was Brigitte able to stay in Australia?
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Brigitte entered Australia posing as a tourist in May this year. He said that while the Frenchman had spent his entire time in Australia in Sydney, "the precise reason for his presence remains unclear at this stage".

The minister's spokesman said the reason Brigitte had been allowed to remain in Australia for such a long period was because at the time he entered the country, the French had not provided any information on him that raised any concerns.

When was Brigitte arrested?
He was arrested on October 9 for breaching his tourist visa, 18 days after French police first warned Australian authorities of his presence in the country. He was taken to Villawood detention centre where he was questioned. He was taken back to France on October 17 for further questioning over terrorist-related offences in that country. He is currently being detained outside Paris by anti-terrorist authorities, according to Australian and French officials.

Has he been charged?
Brigitte is under investigation for "belonging to a criminal association in relation to a terrorist undertaking" by France's top anti-terrorist judge after being questioned for four days by officers from the counter-espionage agency, the DST, French officials told AFP.

Mr Ruddock's spokesman said: "He has not been charged under Australian law at this stage, but investigations are continuing."

[Missouri Mule]

The date of the arrest and the date of the article are not really connected. The source that I posted from appeared to be reputable.

[KWJams]

Originally posted by Simon666
I highly doubt that claim.

They should release him at once -- and apologize for being so rude to tourists that may or may not have pictures of nuclear reactors. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Missouri Mule]

I always make a point of photographing nuclear reactors when visiting foreign countries, don't you?

[NetxMan]

I do. Its my little fetish. I like to photograph that and military installations.

[Simon666]

Originally posted by Missouri Mule
The date of the arrest and the date of the article are not really connected. The source that I posted from appeared to be reputable.
And they have it from a French radio, if you read the article. And the French radio has it from...? :rolleyes: Look, my source appears to be much more detailed and makes no mentioning of pictures of nuclear reactors, despite that it is weeks after the arrest. So stop you're pathetic ridiculizing attempts, I would really like your probably anti-French faces after it appeared you incorrectly believed a French radio station.

[Simon666]

Originally posted by KWJams
They should release him at once -- and apologize for being so rude to tourists that may or may not have pictures of nuclear reactors. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Your joke is pretty lame. This report (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/05/1068013258902.html) is from the Aussies themselves and they report zip nada about photographs of nuclear infrastructure. It seems they might not release him at once but give him 25 years bed and breakfast.

Threat of 25 years' jail for terrorist links

Alleged terrorist Willie Brigitte could have faced up to 25 years in an Australian prison under the Government's latest terrorist law if he had not been sent back to France.

The law makes it illegal to be a member of the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LET) terrorist group, to which Brigitte allegedly belongs. It also adds the military wing of Palestinian group Hamas to Australia's outlawed terrorist organisations.

The Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, said yesterday that anyone found to be a member or a financial backer of those groups would face jail terms of up to 25 years under the law.

Brigitte, a Frenchman, was being held indefinitely at Villawood detention centre for breaching his tourist visa. It has been alleged that he spent several months in an LET training camp in Pakistan before coming to Australia. He is also alleged to have contacted LET members in Sydney.

Brigitte was released from detention and sent back to France after the French Government revealed his role in the al-Qaeda-linked LET.

French law allows for Brigitte to be held without charge for three years on suspicion of being involved in a terrorist organisation. Mr Ruddock has argued that sending Brigitte back to France was the best option because Australia's ASIO laws only allowed for him to be detained for seven days.

However, a spokesman for Mr Ruddock confirmed last night that Brigitte could have fallen within the new laws' ambit if he had been retained in Australian detention.

"But you would need to prove he was a member of a proscribed organisation to the standard of the criminal code," the spokesman said.

"We have seen reports that he was linked to LET, so the question would be whether his links were sufficient to satisfy the law."

The law passed through the House of Representatives yesterday with Labor's support. The Senate has been recalled to sit tomorrow in order to speed the law into force.

Mr Ruddock put the law to the Parliament specifically outlawing LET and the military wing of Hamas, as Labor continued to oppose much broader legislation that would allow the Government to outlaw terrorist groups by regulation.

The move comes as the US Government is increasing pressure on Pakistan to crack down on LET, which operates principally in the disputed state of Kashmir.

On October 16, the US Treasury cited an Indian crime boss as a terrorist supporter because of his twin connections to al-Qaeda and LET. The crime boss, Dawood Ibrahim, is allegedly one of India's biggest narcotics exporters and is known to have funded the activities of LET, according to the US Treasury's officer in charge of combating terrorist financing, Juan Zarate.

LET was designated a terrorist group by the US in October 2001 and banned by Pakistan under US pressure in January 2002. Last week, at US congressional hearings on the terrorist threat in Asia, LET was described as posing a "serious threat" to the US.

[Missouri Mule]

Why are you being argumentative? I just read the articles and your source and concluded that there was no connection that would rule in or rule out the possibility raised by this situation.

[KWJams]

Originally posted by Simon666
Your joke is pretty lame.

Sorry :( I will try to be be more Jerry Lewis like next time ;)

What I find so funny is why you have such a problem with the way the Aussie's are handling the situation.
Unless you know the guy personally or know more about the situation than the Australians know.
Why are you so upset over the treatment of a suspected terrorist?

Should they wait until after he does something wrong other than over stay his Visa before they act?

[Simon666]

I have no problem with the way Aussies are handling things, I posted nothing about that, I just gave the article. Nothing in it about nuclear installations. I'm just upset about giving incorrect information from second hand via via sources. The source Mule gave claims to have had it from a French radio, who had it from I don't know who. The Aussies, who have been confronted with the situation and are in the best position to know, mention nothing about this in the extensive reporting about the case. And by the way, in a democracy you're not guilty until proven you have done something wrong or intended to do something wrong.

[KWJams]

If it looks like a duck -- quacks like a duck --- then chances are that it is a duck!

Guilt by association. Have you ever heard that term before?

[Simon666]

Last time I checked things don't work that way in a democracy. Have you ever heard that term before? "Democracy"?

Or how about : "Proof?" "Fair trial?" "Justice?"

[KWJams]

In a politically correct world that would be right.

But in real life there are fewer reasons to take stupid chances.

[Simon666]

So, when will they start rounding up those christian fundamentalists who support or approve of bombing abortion clinics and put them against the wall?

[dumbuser]

Maybe that article will bring some clarification to the issue, although, in Simon's case I rather doubt it ;)

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35388

[Simon666]

Originally posted by dumbuser
Maybe that article will bring some clarification to the issue, although, in Simon's case I rather doubt it ;)

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35388
It says nothing about nuclear power plants so it seems unclarified Simon is right. ;)

[KWJams]

So, when will they start rounding up those christian fundamentalists who support or approve of bombing abortion clinics and put them against the wall? :lol: :lol:

You French guys sure are funny folks :)

It says nothing about nuclear power plants so it seems unclarified Simon is right.

By golly, Simon is right, it doesn't say a thing about nuclear power plants. They should immediately release the tourist Brigitte from the French jail where he is being held on trumped up charges. :rolleyes:

[Simon666]

Originally posted by KWJams
You French guys sure are funny folks :)
1. I'm Belgian.
2. Belgium is roughly divided in 60% Dutch speaking and 40% French.
3. I'm native Dutch speaking.
4. I don't like the French speaking, corrupt socialist Walloons, I'm in favor of independance for Flanders.
Originally posted by KWJams
By golly, Simon is right, it doesn't say a thing about nuclear power plants. They should immediately release the tourist Brigitte from the French jail where he is being held on trumped up charges. :rolleyes:
He had no pics of nuclear power plants with them. As far as I'm concerned, if he had, they might have electrocuted him. I refuse that people are convicted on false accusations, and having pics of that seems to be.

Now, this does not mean I would like him free, as KWJams claims without providing a quote to where I supposedly said that. :rolleyes: I would not like him locked up based on false accusations. There seems to be however enough material to lock him up for a few years though, if at least what is alleged in dumbusers clarification is proven true.

I hope I cleared some things up because it seems some people claim to know better than me what I would do with him. :D

[KWJams]

What ever,,,,,,,,,,:rolleyes:

[Missouri Mule]

Interesting about Simon. I believes he lives in Brussels. I used to visit there frequently when I was stationed in France in the '60s. I rather liked Belgium a good deal more than France.

[Simon666]

Originally posted by KWJams
What ever,,,,,,,,,,:rolleyes:
Can't stand it when pointed to your errors?
Originally posted by KWJams
Interesting about Simon. I believes he lives in Brussels. I used to visit there frequently when I was stationed in France in the '60s. I rather liked Belgium a good deal more than France.
No, I live in Gent throughout the week, it's in my profile. Brussels sure has changed since then, many immigrants, a lot filthier.

[KWJams]

Originally posted by Simon666
Can't stand it when pointed to your errors?

On the contrary -- why debate someone who runs around in circles over an issue to avoid the logical conclusion. ;)

[Simon666]

Originally posted by KWJams
On the contrary -- why debate someone who runs around in circles over an issue to avoid the logical conclusion.
Are you referring to yourself? Let's analyze your past behaviour.

Originally posted by KWJams
They should release him at once -- and apologize for being so rude to tourists that may or may not have pictures of nuclear reactors. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
I have only stated it is doubted he had pictures of nuclear reactors, and seem to be right and you wrong. I have never requested he would be let free.
Originally posted by KWJams
What I find so funny is why you have such a problem with the way the Aussie's are handling the situation. Unless you know the guy personally or know more about the situation than the Australians know. Why are you so upset over the treatment of a suspected terrorist?
I have not said I have a problem with the way the Aussies are handling things. I placed an article from an Australian website extensively handling the case and pointed out at no time there were allegations about pictures of nuclear power plants, nor did I express that I was upset about the way they handled things.
aybe you interpreted "It seems they might not release him at once but give him 25 years bed and breakfast." that way, which is your interpretation, not mine. I don't see how this expresses being upset. The correct interpretation is that it is an ironic answer to your equally ironic remark he should go free "for only having pictures of a nuclear power plant".
Originally posted by KWJams
By golly, Simon is right, it doesn't say a thing about nuclear power plants. They should immediately release the tourist Brigitte from the French jail where he is being held on trumped up charges.
Simon is right indeed. It says nothing about nuclear power plants. I did at no point say he should go free, that is your way of ridiculizing my attempt to at least give correct information, that he did not have pictures of nuclear powerplants. He had enough other things on his mind to hold him a while in jail, and those do not seem trumped up.

Conclusion: You misinterpret and ridiculize my attempt to clarify he had no pictures of nuclear power plants, and pretend I advocate he should go free while I never said anything remotely like that. You run around in circles over an issue to avoid the logical conclusion that he had no pictures of power plants with him and can't stand I point this out.

[KWJams]

What ever you want to make out of it is fine with me. ;)

Your position of doubt that he had pictures can only be construed that you felt that he is being held with fabricated evidence -- duh!
If he is being held with no evidence then he should be set free --- right?

Would that not be a natural conclusion most people would come to along with your attempt at sarcasm about bed and breakfast?

[Simon666]

Originally posted by KWJams
What ever you want to make out of it is fine with me. ;) Your position of doubt that he had pictures can only be construed that you felt that he is being held with fabricated evidence -- duh!
If he is being held with no evidence then he should be set free --- right? Would that not be a natural conclusion most people would come to along with your attempt at sarcasm about bed and breakfast?
Your first line is that of someone who doesn't seem to understand or have read the above. I don't know how much more clear I should have put it? :rolleyes:

Here goes another attempt. I had a position of doubt he had pictures, now it is pretty certain to me. I did not feel he was held with fabricated evidence. I only claimed that the article Missouri Mule originally provided was probably incorrect.

If he is being held with fabricated evidence only he should be let free. Right. He was not held only with fabricated evidence so he should not be let free. As a matter of fact, he was not even held with fabricated evidence as the claim he had pictures of a nuclear power plant is not an official charge and never has been seemingly, it is only mentioned in the original, Missouri Mule article.

A natural conclusion would be : he was not in possession of pictures of nuclear power plants and the sarcasm was intended as response for that, and he had enough other things on his mind to keep him in for a while, which was what the sarcastic line was about.

Clear?