Suspect in Indian custody says al-Qaida planned attacks in India, Australia and Britain

By N. SUNIL
Associated Press Writer

BOMBAY, India – Indian authorities said Thursday that a man in their custody claimed he was trained by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida which had planned terrorist attacks in Britain, Australia and India similar to the Sept. 11 assault on the United States.

The suspect – identified as 28-year-old Mohammed Afroz – was arrested on Oct. 2 at a Bombay hotel on suspicion of theft and ordered held for questioning.

India's interior minister, Lal Krishna Advani, said Wednesday that Afroz had confessed "that the al-Qaida network had planned to attack Britain, Australia and our Parliament. It was a massive conspiracy."

As details about the suspect's alleged involvement in al-Qaida emerged, Australian authorities said Afroz had received flight training in their country and a Bombay police officer told The Associated Press, on condition of anonymity, that an e-mail sent by Afroz to an address in Australia mentioned plans to hijack a plane and attack the British parliament.

On Thursday, Indian authorities filed preliminary charges against him, including charges of waging war against India and creating uncertainty and apprehension in Indian territory, according to court officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. If convicted, he could be hanged or sentenced to life in prison.

Police have until Dec. 20 to submit a formal list of charges against him or seek more time for questioning. A judge will then decide whether the charges merit a trial.

Police brought Afroz to court on Thursday for a brief appearance and then whisked him away, his face covered.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer ruled out any possibility that Afroz's claims were a hoax.

"I gather he confessed to planning suicide attacks in Australia or in Britain or one or two other countries, so it does underline the point that we need to take our security very seriously," Downer said in Australian Thursday.

Australian Attorney General Daryl Williams told reporters that Afroz had received flight training in Australia.

"We have been able to confirm that he did train in Australia as a pilot in 1997 and 1998 but we've also ascertained that he left Australia in December 1998 and has not returned," Williams said, adding that Australian agencies were working with Indian authorities to investigate the claims.

Afroz's father, Abdul Razak, who runs a tailor shop in Bombay, said earlier this week that his son had learned to fly in Bombay and that he later left India for London.

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