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UK terror arrest in Australia
03/07/2007 07:27 - (SA)
Sydney - A doctor detained in Australia for questioning over failed car bombings in Britain is an Indian national, Prime Minister John Howard said on Tuesday.
Howard said while he could not comment on operational matters surrounding the detention of the 27-year-old doctor in Queensland state late on Monday, there was no information that a terrorist attack was imminent in Australia.
"I do want to take this opportunity of assuring the Australian public that there has been no change to our security position, no change at all," Howard told reporters.
"We have no information that there is now a greater likelihood of any terrorist incident in Australia than there was late last week."
He said Australians still had to be wary about the threat of terrorism.
"We should not be complacent, there are people in our midst who would do us harm and evil if they had the opportunity to do so, that is the nature of the world we live," he said.
Second suspect being questioned
Howard said a second person, earlier identified by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie as another doctor, was being questioned by police.
"The identity of that second person arose from the discussions with the first person who was taken into custody," he said.
"The first person taken into custody was an Indian national who came to Australia sponsored by the Queensland health department."
Howard said he planned to speak with his British counterpart Gordon Brown about the situation later this week.
"The events underline the very close co-operation that exists between the Australian security authorities and the British security authorities," Howard said.
- AFP
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