Khazal denies terrorism link

The Age Tuesday 10 June 2003, 8:30 PM

A former Qantas baggage handler named in an American intelligence report as an al-Qaeda operative in Australia with plans to launch bomb attacks has denied any link to terrorism.

But Sydney man Bilal Khazal said he, "like any Muslim", believed the world's most wanted man, Osama bin Laden, was a good man.

Speaking to Channel Nine's A Current Affair (ACA) program, Mr Khazal denied he had ever been to Afghanistan or was linked to al-Qaeda.

When asked about bin Laden, Mr Khazal said: "I know him, not like what you see him" but said he had never met the terrorist leader.

"What do I think about him (bin Laden)? Like any Muslim. Like any Muslim ... (I) think he's good man," Mr Khazal said.    advertisement       advertisement

Mr Khazal's employment as a Qantas baggage handler was discovered during a security review at Sydney airport.

He has since had his passport confiscated as authorities investigate him.

When asked why he left his job at Qantas, Mr Khazal told ACA: "I left my job. I left because I got damage on my back."

Mr Khazal now runs an internet site for the Islamic Youth Movement in Sydney.

A secret Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report from the United States, dated mid-June 2002, stated that "the al-Qaeda leadership has allegedly delegated responsibility to Bilal Abdallah Khazal".

"Khazal is reportedly planning an explosives attack against some US embassies and the current target is in Venezuela," the report said.

"Khazal also has plans to attack with explosives US interest in the Philippines."

Born in Northern Lebanon, the CIA reported Mr Khazal moved to Australia in 1989 and lived on the outskirts of Lakemba, in Sydney's southwest, with his wife and two children.

He had worked with Islamic fundamentalist groups, the CIA said.

Mr Khazal said authorities had the wrong person because the CIA report stated Mr Khazal's middle name as "Abdallah", which was incorrect.