Australia charges Indian doctor in UK bomb plot

Melbourne, July 14: Australian Federal Police said today they had charged a 27-year-old Indian doctor over his alleged links to the perpetrators of attempted car bomb attacks in Britain on June 29 and 30.

''He has been charged with providing support to a terrorist organisation,'' a police spokesman said.

The charge against Mohamed Haneef carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail. He is due to appear in court in Brisbane later today.

The Queensland-based doctor had been held for 12 days and police withdrew a request on Friday afternoon to extend his detention, and began 12 hours of questioning.

Haneef is one of six Indian doctors questioned in Australia over the suspected al Qaeda-linked plot in Britain. The others have been released.

Two car bombs primed to explode in London's bustling theatre and nightclub district were discovered early on June 29. The following day a jeep crashed into the terminal building at Glasgow airport in Scotland and burst into flames.

Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo told Australian radio he had spent the night at federal police headquarters in Brisbane where his client was questioned. Russo said Haneef was ''very upset'' by the news and would apply for bail.

Reuters

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