Australia's spy network blames France for delayed arrest of Guadeloupe-born terror suspect

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

CANBERRA, Australia (AFP): Australia's intelligence agency ASIO blamed an oversight by its French counterparts Monday for a delay in authorities here learning that Guadeloupe-born terror suspect Willie Brigitte was in Australia.

Brigitte spent five months in Sydney before being arrested for immigration breaches and deported on October 17 to France where he remains in jail under judicial investigation for terrorist-related offences.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general Dennis Richardson told a Senate committee French authorities sent a message to ASIO on September 22 warning that Brigitte may be in Australia and another on October 3 warning he could be dangerous.

The second message, which was not marked urgent, although its text stated it was urgent, was not read until October 7 when the ASIO office reopened after a long weekend.

ASIO, he said, never received urgent communications from foreign agencies without direct alerts.

"We're not aware of the last time any organisation from anywhere around the world has communicated to us something which they consider to be urgent and important without first letting us know," Richardson told the hearing.

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