21 Muslims face terror charges in two Australian trials
Nine Muslim men accused of planning terror attacks went on trial under tight security here yesterday, as the trial of 12 other men charged with other terror-related offences continued in Melbourne.
In Sydney, the nine men sat in a glassed-off dock in a crowded courtroom as lawyers began raising a number of legal issues which Supreme Court judge Anthony Whealy said could take months to resolve.
They have been charged with conspiring to perform acts in preparation for a terrorist attack, including buying chemicals and locating extremist material.
In Melbourne, the trial which began almost two weeks ago continued of 12 men who were allegedly urged by their leader, an Islamic cleric, to target football matches or a train station in a bid to kill 1,000 people.
The 21 men were arrested in a series of swoops in Sydney and Melbourne in November 2005, days after the Australian government passed tough new anti-terrorism legislation, and have been held in custody ever since.
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