1 held on Tamil Tiger terror charges in Sydney

Sydney, July 10: A Sydney man was arrested and charged with terrorism offences today for being a member of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers and supporting the organisaton, which has waged a two-decade long civil war, police said.

The 41-year-old man will appear in Sydney's Central Local Court today. Police said they will seek his extradition to the southern state of Victoria, where two Australians have already been charged with similar offences.

Australian Federal Police said the Sydney man was charged with ''intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation'', ''providing support or resources to a terrorist organisation'' and ''making an asset available to a proscribed entity''.

The charges carry maximum prison terms of 25, 10, and five years respectively.

The Tamil Tigers have waged a two-decade long civil war in Sri Lanka aimed at carving out an independent state for minority Tamils in the island nation.

In May, two Australians in the southern city of Melbourne were charged with being members of the Tamil Tigers and using 2004 Asian tsunami relief funds for terrorist activities. The men have appeared in court but have not yet entered a plea.

Nineteen Australians already face terrorism charges.

Australia, a staunch US ally, has never suffered a major peacetime attack on home soil, but tougher anti-terrorism laws were imposed after the September 11, 2001, hijacked airliner attacks on the United States.

Reuters
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