The Age Wednesday 11 June 2003, 6:30 AM

A former Qantas baggage handler accused of being an al-Qaeda operative in Australia has strongly denied the claim, but describes Osama bin Laden as a "a good man".

Bilal Khazal worked at Sydney's international airport in the lead-up to the 2000 Olympics and a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report has linked him to al-Qaeda.

The report, dated mid-June 2002 and based on intelligence from the Palestinian Authority, alleged he was planning attacks on US interests in Venezuela and the Philippines.

But Mr Khazal has told Channel Nine's A Current Affair program he does not have links to al-Qaeda but said he, "like any Muslim", believed Osama bin Laden was a good man.

He denied he had ever been to Afghanistan or met bin Laden, the head of al-Qaeda and the world's most wanted man.

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

Transport Minister John Anderson said new security arrangements would stop people with suspected terrorist links being employed.

"People who hold ASIC cards, airport security cards, will now all face the toughest and most stringent background checks of any country in the western world including checks for political involvement and attitude," Mr Anderson said.

The secret CIA report said "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," it said.

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

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

He came to Australian authorities attention during a security review at Sydney airport and has since had his passport confiscated while he is investigated.

Mr Khazal told A Current Affair he left his job with Qantas because of a back problem.

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

The Herald Sun By Ian McPhedran June 11, 2003

SUSPECTED terrorist sympathiser Bilal Khazal will almost certainly lose an appeal to get his passport back. Mr Khazal, a Lebanese-Australian, has strong links to numerous Islamic extremist groups including al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah, the group behind the Bali bombings.

Authorities are unsure whether the Sydney man has trained with al-Qaeda.

About six other Australians with possible terrorist links have had their passports revoked. Two of them have lost appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

ASIO argued strongly for the passport bans to stand and it is opposing Mr Khazal's appeal.

His passport was revoked after ASIO provided a security assessment to the Federal Government just before he planned to leave on an overseas trip.

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer cancelled the passport early last year, but Mr Khazal has been a "person of interest" to ASIO for much longer than that.

"He is someone we have been aware of since well before the Sydney Olympic Games," a government source said.

ABC TV's Four Corners on Monday quoted a CIA report naming Mr Khazal as a supporter of al-Qaeda.

The report was prepared for authorities in the Philippines and was compiled from material provided to the CIA by ASIO.

ASIO has had him under surveillance for several years and is closely monitoring the activities of the Islamic Youth Movement in Sydney. Several IYM members, including

Mr Khazal, are of "real interest" to authorities.

Mr Khazal, a strong supporter of Osama bin Laden, runs an Internet site for the IYM. According to the CIA report, he was involved in planning attacks in the Philippines and Venezuela.

Sydney Lebanese community leader Keysar Trad said Mr Khazal was not a security threat.

"He is abrupt, he is abrasive, he's just someone who's not generally a nice person," Mr Trad said. "I have not seen anything from the group that he associates with that would pose any risk to the security of Australia."

Mr Khazal worked as a baggage handler at Sydney airport's international terminal before March 2000, but he had been off work with a bad back for some time before that.

This year's federal Budget provided funds for security screening of people working on the "air side" of airport terminals including baggage handlers.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister John Anderson said airport staff would now face the toughest security checks in the world.

"As I've announced, people who hold cards - airport security cards - will now all face the toughest and most stringent background checks of any country in the Western world, including checks for political involvement and attitude," Mr Anderson said.

Authorities cannot take stronger action against him because he had not broken any laws.

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."  

The Age Tuesday 10 June 2003, 8:30 PM

The federal government has promised that tough background checks of airline employees would uncover any security threats after allegations a man linked to al-Qaeda had worked for Qantas.

Reports compiled by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) linked former Qantas baggage handler Bilal Khazal to al-Qaeda and said he worked at Sydney's international airport in the lead-up to the Olympics in 2000.

He was discovered during a security review at Sydney airport and has since had his passport confiscated as authorities investigate him.

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

He was allegedly planning terrorist attacks on US interests in Venezuela and the Philippines, ABC television said on Monday.

Transport Minister John Anderson said new security arrangements would stop people with suspected terrorist links being employed.

"People who hold ASIC cards, airport security cards, will now all face the toughest and most stringent background checks of any country in the western world including checks for political involvement and attitude," he said.

Terrorism expert Clive Williams said people working at airports should undergo vigorous security checks before being cleared to go near aircraft.

"I think it is a problem that many of the people who work on the air site at airports haven't been sufficiently cleared and it has traditionally been an area where there's a high turnover of staff," he said.

NSW secretary of the Transport Workers Union Tony Sheldon said the allegations surrounding Mr Khazal alarmed him and he questioned whether there were other people with terrorist links working at Australian airports.

Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said security was part and parcel of his airline's business.

"I think the security in Australia is in fact now probably getting close to second to none. I don't think security is an issue today," he said.

And REX airline chief executive Michael Jones said nobody could work inside major airports unless they had a security check.

"I don't think there is a security risk because it has been picked up," he said.

A senior member of the Lebanese community also said Mr Khazal was not a threat.

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.