Terrorist Suspect Moved After Escape Plot

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday August 23, 2007

Les Kennedy

ONE of nine men awaiting trial on charges of planning a terrorist attack has been moved from his high security cell at Lithgow Jail after an alleged escape plot was foiled.

But despite the Corrective Services Commissioner, Ron Woodham, last night praising the vigilance of guards at the Blue Mountains maximum security prison police, NSW counter-terrorism police were cautious as to whether one of the alleged terrorists was responsible for an attempt to cut through a metal bar in an exercise area.

Mr Woodham said an alert prison guard discovered on Tuesday that an overhead bar in a small exercise yard connected to a lone cell in a high security isolation area had been partially cut through.

He said the cell and exercise yard were for the sole use of one prisoner who faces terrorism-related charges.

However, NSW Police said last night it was possible the cut mark in the bar could have been made by a previous inmate of the cell.

Corrective Services refused to reveal the name or age of the prisoner, who the Herald understands is among nine men awaiting trial in the Supreme Court next year over an alleged conspiracy to attack a site in Sydney.

The prisoner was transferred on Tuesday to Goulburn.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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