DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: DOCTOR MOHAMED HANEEF DID & DOES HAVE TIES TO TERRORISTS

Haneef chatroom link to terrorist
By Malcolm Farr

AN internet chatroom exchange linking Mohamed Haneef and a man arrested over a terror strike in the UK was revealed by the Federal Government last night.

The material was released by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews to justify his July 16 decision to cancel Dr Haneef's working visa.

The exchange between Dr Haneef on the Gold Coast and his brother Shoaib in India included references to a "project" involving accused terrorist Kafeel Ahmed, and excuses for leaving Australia quickly. At one stage Shoaib says: "Nothing has been found out about you."

It has also emerged that Glasgow car bomber Kafeel Ahmed had lent money to Dr Haneef, his second cousin, and that Dr Haneef had internet conversations with another terror suspect Sabeel Ahmed - Kafeel's brother and also Dr Haneef's second cousin.

The details were part of the reason why the AFP advised Mr Andrews to cancel the visa, which the doctor, now in India, has gone to court to have returned.

On July 1, the day before Dr Haneef tried to leave Australia through Brisbane, he had an email exchange with his brother Shoaib, who asked when he was leaving Australia.

Dr Haneef replied: "Today."

They discussed whether he had permission to leave Gold Coast Hospital and what reason he had given.

"Dr Haneef said he told them his baby was born in an emergency caesarean. The brother told him to 'tell them that you have to as you have a daughter born, do not tell them anything else'," Mr Andrews said.

"The brother then said not to delay his departure and not to let anyone else use his phone number in Australia, or to give it to anyone."

"The brother added that 'Auntie' told him that brother Kafeel (Ahmed) used it in some sort of project over there. The brother (Shoaib) also referred to the disturbances," Mr Andrews said.

On June 29 there was a failed terrorist attack in London and on July 1 a 4WD loaded with flammable material was driven into the Glasgow airport terminal.

On July 2, Dr Haneef was detained at Brisbane international airport and on July 14 he was charged with "reckless"' assistance to terrorists, a charge that was dropped last Friday after prosecutors admitted mistakes.

Federal Police told Mr Andrews the conversation could be "evidence of Haneef's awareness of the conspiracy".

The police also said Dr Haneef's urgent departure on a one-way ticket appeared "to be on a false pretext, highly suspicious and may reflect Haneef's awareness of the conspiracy".

Dr Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo last night said his client had been questioned about the internet chats with his brother.

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1) Haneef chatroom link to terrorist