ATM robbery ends with a bang

Readers may remember our story about the Bank of Queensland at Aspley being blown up earlier this year by thieves attempting to steal the ATM. This story shows that Sydney thieves aren't any smarter...

Thieves blow up ATM, damage own car

November 25, 2008, 9:00 am

Four thieves who blew up an ATM in Sydney's eastern suburbs were forced to flee on foot after the explosion damaged their getaway car, police say.

The four males set off the explosion at the Bendigo Bank street-front ATM in Clovelly Road, Clovelly, at about 1.45am (AEDT) on Tuesday.

The bank was extensively damaged with debris spewed out across the street.

The thieves had to abandon their Audi getaway car and escaped the scene on foot.

Bomb squad officers were called in to ensure several gas cylinders found in the car were safe.

The incident was one of three ATM-explosions across Sydney during the night.

About the same time, three males were seen blowing up an ATM on Waldron Street, Chester Hill, in Sydney's west, damaging the front of a bank.

Police believe the bandits fled in a late-model silver Audi .

In the third incident, an ATM on Guildford Road at Guildford was blown up at about 2.15am.

The area of Guildford Road between Cross Street and Station Street has been cordoned off due to a large amount of debris.

Police did not yet know whether any cash was taken in the three incidents.

(Source: Yahoo News)

Brisbane Transport Bomb Threat

Threats made against Brisbane buses

September 13, 2008, 5:42 pm

Brisbane's public transport network is on high alert this weekend after police received threats against Brisbane's buses.

Police received a phone call at 4.15pm (AEST) on Thursday from a man at a Brisbane location making threats against services.

Acting chief superintendent Peter Crawford said police did not believe the threats were "credible" but warned people to be vigilant and report any suspicious packages or luggage.

"Police do not believe this is a credible threat," Supt Crawford said.

"We do not want people to be alarmed and we would like people to go about their normal business over the weekend."

The threats come as Brisbane hosts several activities this weekend including the Bledisloe Cup game and Valley Fiesta.

"What this incident does is highlight to us the importance of being alert in public places and on public transport for suspicious activity and suspicious articles.

"If you see unattended packages or unattended luggage or suspicious activity ... report to police or public transport officials."

Police are working closely with the Brisbane City Council and Translink to ensure security is increased this weekend.

A "significant number" of police are already manning Brisbane streets due to the public activities, Supt Crawford said.

A major incident room has been set up and a team of detectives are working on the incident.

Supt Crawford said the crime was "very serious" and carried a penalty of 14 years of imprisonment.

"The offender involved will be prosecuted," he said.

Brisbane's public transport network was shut down after several bomb threats were made to bus and train services on the same day in late 2005.

Those threats were found to be a hoax.

Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Yahoo7 News

Brisbane Bomb Threats

Alsco Linen Factory received a bomb threat on 20th of August. Police used their robot to investigate the device:

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-au&brand=ninemsn&vid=1bcbe25d-251a-49b9-9a9d-c76b724fbe04&fg=rss

Home Grown Terror Recipe Book

Sydney man guilty of compiling DIY terror guide

Bellinda Kontominas September 10, 2008 - 3:48PM

A Sydney man who compiled a book described as a "do-it-yourself guide to terrorism" has been found guilty of a terrorist-related offence.

Belal Saadallah Khazaal, 38, from Lakemba, was found guilty of knowingly making a document connected with assistance in a terrorist act , after he compiled a 110-page book promoting violence against Christians, Jews and non-Muslims, and had it posted on the internet.
The jury has gone home this afternoon and will return tomorrow to deliberate on a second charge of attempting to incite a terrorist act.

The book, known as The Provisions On The Rules Of Jihad - short judicial rulings and organisational instructions for fighters and mujahideen against infidels, was compiled by Khazaal under the name Abu Mohamed Attawheedy.

It described methods of assassination, including shooting down planes, striking motorcades and booby trapping rooms.

Earlier, Crown Prosecutor Peter Neil, SC, had told the jury that there had been well-known terrorist attacks across the world and Khazaal's book was "urging [and] attempting to urge others to go out and do similar things".

Mr Neil said the book had "considerable antipathy" towards non-believers and singled out, in order of preference, countries to target. These included the United States, Britain and Australia.
Khazaal's barrister, George Thomas, had argued that, as a journalist, his client had compiled the book from material already publicly available on the internet and had written only three introductory paragraphs of the document.

Source: Brisbane Times

A case in point

As a trainer for DELTRA Australia, I have been speaking for a while now about Queensland leading the way in Australia for the illegal use of explosives. The statistics I base this on are from the 'Bomb Data Centre' of the Australian Federal Police. In these various training sessions (emergency response and bomb threat) I've been telling the wardens and emergency officers that often this illegal use of explosives is to aid in the commission of a crime or in the destruction of evidence. This week I'm vindicated by the following news story:

Bank robber may be injured by Qld blast

July 26, 2008 - 4:07PM

At least one of the robbers still at large after a bank heist on Brisbane's northside may be injured from his gang's own explosion, police say.

The Bank of Queensland Aspley branch, on Gympie Road, was gutted and charred by an explosion around 3.15am (AEST) Saturday.

The bank's automatic teller machine was thrown onto the footpath by the blast.

After initial investigations at the crime scene, police believe one of the men was standing near the explosion.

North Brisbane Police District acting superintendent Jeff Kelly said a paper delivery operator also saw a man dressed in dark clothing "stagger" from the bank.

"The gentleman staggered over to a late `90s model Holden sedan, dark colour, which was parked adjacent to the bank where two other persons dressed in similar clothing were standing behind the vehicle," Superintendent Kelly said.

"That vehicle was then seen to drive off at a high speed in a west direction towards Albany Creek."

Police said they were appealing to hospital staff and medical practitioners for assistance.

Any medical practitioners with information about a man or men with injuries consistent with an explosion, such as burns or shrapnel injuries, were asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service senior operation co-ordinator Paul Simmons said firefighters brought a resulting blaze under control within 30 minutes of the explosion.

It is not known if anything was stolen from the bank.

No bystanders or bank staff were injured.

The fire also damaged a neighbouring business and parts of the Fountain Shopping Centre bounded by Gympie and Albany Creek roads remain closed, but all roads are open.

Scientific officers remain at the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.

The Bank of Queensland has advised that the branch will be closed until further notice.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: AAP