Sydney steps up guard at N-plant

By GREG ANSLEY, EUGENE BINGHAM and NZPA

Security around Sydney's Lucas Heights nuclear reactor has been increased in the lead-up to the Olympics after Auckland police discovered a possible terrorist plot to target it.

But anger is growing at the federal Government's refusal to shut down the reactor, 25km from the Olympic stadium, during the Games.

Australian Science Minister Nick Minchin revealed that security operations had been stepped up at the plant in the past week, even though he said that officially the risk was deemed "very low."

The plot, discovered by Auckland detectives during an immigration investigation in March, was revealed in a world exclusive in the Weekend Herald.

Politicians on both sides of the Tasman downplayed the threat. But despite comments from NZ Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton and Police Minister George Hawkins attacking the Herald story, the details were confirmed by police national headquarters in Wellington. And New South Wales police said they were taking the inquiry seriously.

Mr Anderton said that had there been a serious threat there would have been arrests.

Juxtaposing front-page photographs of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, a nuclear reactor and Afghan soldiers armed to the teeth was "ludicrous."

Mr Hawkins, whom police briefed on Saturday, said he did not believe it was as serious as reported because they would have briefed him earlier.

The story revealed that detectives discovered what they believe is a clandestine cell of possible terrorists, mainly Afghan refugees, who maintain telephone links with suspected terrorist organisations. They had street maps of Sydney, details of the area around the reactor and a notebook on police security at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

In the lounge of an anonymous-looking house in suburban Mt Albert, police found what looked like a virtual command centre with conference table and maps.

Some of the 20 people identified by police are believed to have links with sympathisers of bin Laden, the Western world's most wanted terrorist.

While no charges have been laid in connection with the terrorism inquiry, some of the group have been arrested on other matters.

Australian Attorney-General Darryl Williams confirmed that the discovery had prompted an investigation by Australian agencies.

Sydney's Sun-Herald newspaper reported that the tighter security included a sweep by six Army Blackhawk helicopters over part of the city on Saturday.

Mr Williams said he was satisfied there was no credible threat to the reactor and Sydney would not follow the example of Atlanta, which shut its smaller nuclear plant during the 1996 Games. But demonstrators at the plant yesterday disagreed.

Ken McDonell, president of the surrounding Sutherland Shire in southwestern Sydney, said his council would fight to have the reactor shut.

"Here we have now some fairly solid evidence that an international terrorist organisation has targeted Lucas Heights and I think that it is outrageous the Attorney-General, and for that matter Nick Minchin ... are downplaying the dangers here."

The New Zealand police national crime manager, Detective Superintendent Bill Bishop, confirmed many of the details in the Weekend Herald report. But he said police would release few details on the operation because of the "sensitivity" of some of the material uncovered and because it was better dealt with by Australian police.

In an interview with Spanish television, International Olympic Committee chairman Juan Antonio Samaranch expressed confidence in Sydney security. "I feel calm, although I will feel even more so the day of the closing ceremony."

Operation Olympics: Sydney is ready for terrorists

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