DATE=8/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=OLYMPICS TERRORISM (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265872
BYLINE=ANNE BARKER
DATELINE=ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  New Zealand police have uncovered and foiled a 
possible terrorist plot to blow up a nuclear reactor 
in Sydney during next month's Olympic games.  Anne 
Barker reports there is speculation the plot may be 
the work of sympathizers of the Saudi born terror 
suspect Osama Bin Laden.


TEXT:  New Zealand police have revealed they raided 
houses in the countries largest city, Auckland, in 
March, and found evidence of a conspiracy to blow up 
the nuclear research reactor at Lucas Heights in 
Sydney's south.

The houses were home to Afghan refugees and the raids 
were part of an investigation into a people smuggling 
racket to get illegal immigrants from Afghanistan into 
New Zealand.

The New Zealand Herald says about 20 refugees from 
Afghanistan and possibly Iran were involved. The 
living room of one house had been converted into a 
virtual command center.  Complete with a conference 
center and maps.  Police say material found included a 
map of Sydney highlighting the nuclear reactor and 
detailing its access and exit routes.  Entries in a 
note book outlined police security tactics for the 
Commonwealth Games held in Auckland in 1990.

Police arrested three people during the raids but they 
were only charged with minor offenses.  News of the 
possible conspiracy has sent a shock wave through 
Sydney, although Australian authorities say the risk 
of a terrorist attack is low.  Residents living near 
the nuclear plant have demanded it be shut down 
immediately as was a similar nuclear facility in 
Atlanta before the start of the 1996 Olympics.

Sydney police say they are treating the threat 
seriously but say they have no plans to shut down the 
reactor.  Sydney has a population has a population of 
about four and one-half million, with up to a million 
visitors expected during the games.

The New Zealand Herald has speculated the plot may 
have been hatched by sympathizers of Saudi born Osama 
Bin Laden, the man the United States accuses of 
masterminding the deadly 1998 bombings of two 
embassies in Africa.

The Australian foreign affairs minister Alexander 
Downer last week said Bin Laden was an example of the 
sort of people Australian authorities were monitoring 
in the lead-up to the games.  But Mr. Downer said at 
this stage there was no indication that there was any 
direct threat to the Olympics.  The New Zealand Herald 
says security forces in the United States, Canada and 
Britain are looking into the plot.  (signed)

NEB/AB/KBK



26-Aug-2000 05:03 AM EDT (26-Aug-2000 0903 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.