Former Qantas worker denies Al Qaeda link. Security threat: Alleged Al Qaeda suspect worked at Sydney Airport

ABC Last Update: Wednesday, June 11, 2003. 8:36am (AEST) The man named on a Four Corners television program as an Al Qaeda representative in Australia has denied he is a member of the organisation. The ABC program has cited a CIA document alleging Bilal Khazal was not only an Al Qaeda operative but was planning attacks on US interests in Venezuela and the Philippines, but Mr Khazal has denied the claims. Mr Khazal worked as a baggage handler for Qantas until March 2000. He has told Channel Nine he is not a member of Al Qaeda and says he did not train in Afghanistan because he has never been there. "Never, you can see my passport, go ask the ASIO, they know," he said. He says the CIA got his name wrong in the document referred to on ABC TV and seems to have the wrong man. "They said Bilal Abdullah Khazal. You read Abdullah? You read the middle name? It's not my middle name," he said. He says allegations are being made against him without any evidence. "What they are talking about me, it is all not proof, without any proof." Mr Khazal declined to be interviewed by ABC radio, but says he may release a statement addressing the claims made about his activities.

Stricter checks The Federal Government has promised stricter background checks of airport employees, after it was reported Mr Khazal was allegedly associated with Al Qaeda. Mr Khazal now runs an Internet site for the Islamic Youth Movement in Sydney's south-west and despite investigations by Australian authorities has never been charged with any offence. Federal Transport Minister John Anderson says airport employees will be more strictly vetted. "People who hold airport security cards will now face the toughest and most stringent background checks of any country in the western world, including checks for political involvement and attitude," he said. A senior member of the Islamic community believes Mr Khazal is being targeted because of his religion. "Being branded as a terrorist just because of your religious identity is just not right and not fair and I think we should be very cautious about looking at these media isues without having substantial information to back you up," said the president of the forum of Australia's Islamic Relations, Kuranda Seyit. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says the Federal Government still has concerns about the former baggage handler. There have been no charges laid against the man, but Mr Downer says his passport has been revoked. He says the case highlights the need for vigilance. "There are sympathisers of Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah in Australia, there is no doubt about that and we have to vigilant in making sure we monitor national security as best we can."