Muslims in Australia tried to rob ATM for funding Syria jihad
COUNTER-terrorism officers have charged a figurehead of last year's Muslim riots and infamous Sharia "whipping" case over an attempted ATM ram-raid in Sydney's north.There's also a few more interesting names connected with this crime:
Wassim Fayad, 46, one of two head spokesmen during the riots, was arrested at 7.30am last Friday at Auburn and charged over the failed ram-raid involving at least two other men at North Ryde on May 15.
The investigation, kept under wraps until now, has been continuing for several months, running at the same time as another case with the Joint-Counter Terrorism Team examining a syndicate sending young Australian Muslims to fight in the Syrian civil war. Police also have been investigating Fayad's activities to see whether he has any connection with the Syrian syndicate.
While the ATM attack would normally be left with local authorities, counter terror police are understood to have led the investigation because of their interest in how the alleged assailants had planned to spend the proceeds of the crime.
An associate of al-Ahmadzai, Mirwaice Rahemi, 23, pleaded guilty this year to conspiracy to commit an armed robbery on a cash-in-transit van at Cecil Hills on September 28, 2011.Interesting how people who took part in atrocious matters also have ties to these other atrocious matters.
Rahemi was photographed outside the Downing Centre Local Court in June 2011 supporting Muslim woman Carnita Matthews, who in 2010 claimed police tried to rip off her burqa but was later found guilty of making a false statement. The charge was subsequently overturned on appeal.
Her husband, Hamdi Alqudsi, 39, was on Tuesday charged with being the principal of the syndicate sending Australians to Syria.
Labels: Australia, islam, jihad, syria, terrorism, war on terror