October 26, 2006
Chemical theft 'not linked to terrorism'
THE theft of ammonium nitrate from a train near Newcastle was not linked to terrorist activity, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said today.smh.com.au
Police said 400kg of the chemical, which can be used in bomb-making, was stolen from a locked container on a goods train near Newcastle three weeks ago.
It had been destined for the mining industry.
Ammonium nitrate was used in terrorist bombings in Bali.
"There is no suggestion at this point in time that it is linked to any terrorist or planned terrorist activity," Mr Keelty said.
He said the investigation into the theft was being handled by NSW police, who had informed the AFP's counter-terrorism unit.
October 27, 2006
Terrorism alert over theft of explosives ingredient
The missing ammonium nitrate was first reported in The Newcastle Herald last week. Terrorism experts are playing down suggestions that the theft may have been carried out by a terrorist cell.OK! I'll bite: Police have no evidence that the incident was linked to terrorism, and are not drawing any conclusions: so ...
Security experts told the Herald there had been numerous thefts from rail containers in the Newcastle area and Orica containers were broken into 18 months ago by thieves looking for electrical goods.
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The Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, said yesterday he had seen no evidence that the incident was linked to terrorism but a spokesman said he was not drawing any conclusions about the investigation, which is being carried out by NSW police.
Why the headline?