Interpol assists probe into terrorist suspect

By CATHERINE MASTERS

Security agencies around the world are helping to investigate the true identify of the international terrorism suspect held at Paremoremo prison.

Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel said last night that her concerns about the man were very serious. "I believe we have an obligation to undertake a thorough investigation."

The New Zealand police, Interpol and other security agencies with links around the world had been contacted, she said.

Neither the Australian Government nor Scotland Yard's terrorism division would last night say whether they were helping New Zealand officials.

The Weekend Herald understands that the man causing concern is Algerian Ahmed Zaoui, a member of a militant Islamic group responsible for a range of atrocities and terrorist activities in Algeria and in Europe.

Zaoui was sentenced to death in Algeria in the mid-1990s and in 1997 slipped into Switzerland from Brussels but was later deported to the West African state of Burkina Faso.

Last year his name was linked with Osama bin Laden's terror network in Southeast Asia.

Al Qaeda is believed to be behind the killing of anti-Taleban Afghani warlord Ahmad Shah Massoud. Zaoui has connections with people suspected of masterminding Massoud's killing.

Weekend Herald sources say the man in custody volunteered the name Ahmed Zaoui when he arrived in New Zealand.

"That may be as common as John Smith. We don't know," said one source. "But if he is who he says he is, it's a big fish."

Yesterday, the man in Paremoremo communicated with his lawyer, Paul Coates, through an interpreter.

Mr Coates said he was on legal aid and did not speak English. He had rights, and should have "access to justice notwithstanding security concerns".

The lawyer said that as a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention, New Zealand had certain obligations - and of paramount importance was Mr Zaoui's access to justice.

Mr Coates said he first met Mr Zaoui under "extremely secure conditions" at the Papakura police station this week but they only "touched base".

Yesterday they met for a more lengthy discussion with the aid of an interpreter, but Mr Coates would not reveal details.

"I've seen him but I can't really make any public comment. It's a private matter between me and him. I can't make any statement about what he's applied for at all. I've got no comment on that."

Earlier yesterday, Mr Coates said his client was being detained under a warrant of commitment issued by the courts which was granted under the Immigration Act and gave the Government the power to hold him for 28 days.

"I will appear on his behalf in the district court when that comes up for renewal. I can't comment on what will happen in that process because of events which might happen between then and now."

Mr Coates said his client appeared well.

Ms Dalziel last night contested claims by Auckland lawyer Colin Amery that it was a serious security breach that the man had been able to get into the country at all.

"No, because he was actually picked up prior to entering New Zealand," she said.

"He actually has to be given a permit to enter New Zealand, so the fact he was picked up at the border represents the security system working well."

The system would work even better next year with the implementation of a new passenger processing system, which will give access to passport details before people board the plane.

If this had already been in place, "it is highly unlikely that he would have been able to board the plane," Ms Dalziel said.

The man, who shredded South African travel documents on the aircraft before landing, was apprehended at Auckland Airport this week.

He was kept in cells at the Papakura police station for about 48 hours while staff at the Manukau District Court issued a warrant for him to be held in custody for up to 28 days.

He was taken to Paremoremo prison near Auckland under heavy police guard and is being held in the most secure unit of the maximum-security facility.

Before the end of the 28 days, authorities must obtain a warrant from a judge if they want to continue to keep him in custody.

The police head of counter-terrorism, Assistant Commissioner Jon White, said police were helping other agencies with the case.

"We are doing the necessary inquiries to check out the man's background."

Mr White refused to comment any further, referring inquiries to the Immigration Service.

Immigration spokesman Ian Smith would not comment on the case yesterday and said he had not heard of Ahmed Zaoui.

It is not uncommon for authorities to issue warrants for people arriving from overseas about whom there are security concerns, although they are normally held in the Mangere refugee centre or Auckland Central Remand Prison, rather than Paremoremo.

Zaoui is not the only person being held in New Zealand under tough immigration rules - another man is being held on a judicial warrant.

He is an escapee from the Australian immigration detention centre Villawood and was on the run for 11 months before turning up in New Zealand. He is locked up in Auckland Central police station.

- additional reporting by Eugene Bingham