Muslim convert 'obliged' to bomb embassy, court told

A British-born Muslim convert, allegedly recruited by al-Qaida to bomb the Israeli embassy in Australia, felt he was obliged to carry out a jihad, or holy war, his son told an Australian court today.

Jack Roche, 50, made the comment in a letter sent to his son from Afghanistan in 2000, where prosecutors allege he met with al-Qaida leaders and forged a plot to bomb the embassy in Canberra to bring attention to the Palestinians’ plight. The bombing was never carried out.