Terror links probe widens

CANBERRA - Australian authorities have seized the passports of two Sydney men, stopping them leaving the country, in an investigation into a deported Frenchman with suspected al Qaeda links now in custody in Paris.

The investigation began after French authorities told Australia of the presence of Frenchman Willy Virgil Brigitte, 35, who is believed to have trained with al Qaeda and was suspected of being in Australia for terror-related activity.

Brigitte, an Islamic convert, arrived in Australia in May on a tourist visa, but was found working in a restaurant in Sydney and deported under armed guard on October 17 to Paris.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said yesterday that investigations were continuing.

Police had raided six homes in Sydney over the weekend, questioning several people with links to Brigitte and cancelling two passports on security grounds.

"The [passport] cancellations which I signed are linked to investigations ... into the presence here of French national Willy Brigitte," Downer said.

"We are obviously very concerned about the activities of Mr Brigitte but I don't want to say too much about that except that we were advised by French authorities that he might have been in Australia in connection with terrorism related activities."

He would not comment on whether the investigation had broken up a suspected terror cell in Australia or whether Brigitte could have been a "sleeper agent" in Australia to either recruit people or assist with an attack.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Brigitte was believed to have been under orders to shelter an explosives expert in Australia.

Australia has been named as a possible target by militant Islamic groups because of its military involvement in the US-led war in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and for sending troops to Iraq.

Brigitte is now in custody in Paris under official investigation for "association with criminals engaged in a terrorist enterprise" - the stage before charges are laid.

French judicial sources said Brigitte is believed to have trained and fought in Afghanistan against US-led forces.

The sources said Brigitte was also being investigated over the assassination of Afghan rebel commander Ahmad Shah Masood ,who opposed the hardline Islamic Taleban.

Masood was killed when two men posing as journalists blew themselves up while conducting a mock interview with him in early September 2001.

Two stolen Belgian passports were found on them.

A Belgian court last month convicted two North Africans of recruiting militants and trafficking in false passports linked to the murder.

- REUTERS