Terror suspect 'asked to recruit more members'

A British-born terror suspect was asked by senior al-Qaida figures in Afghanistan to recruit Australian Muslims to be trained in explosives and sniper techniques, a court heard today.

Jack Roche – who has pleaded not guilty to plotting to blow up the Israeli embassy in Canberra – told federal police that he had extensive contacts with operatives from both al-Qaida and the Southeast Asian terror group Jemmah Islamiyah.