A man described as the most serious security risk to ever enter Australia was deported this week.
Mohammed Hassanien, who left Australia Monday night for Denmark, had been arrested earlier in June in Melbourne in connection with a politically motivated arson attack in Europe.
Security agencies would not release any details relating to Hassanien, but it is understood that he has close ties to Egypt’s largest Islamic militant group, which claimed responsibility for the April 18 attack in Cairo that left 18 Greek tourists dead. The fundamentalist organization, the Islamic Group, had thought that the tourists were Israelis.
On June 1, australian police arrested Hassanien shortly before he was to leave on a flight out of the country. He pulled a hunting knife on the arresting officer, but was disarmed.
Hassanien, who was denied refugee status in Australia, used the papers of a deceased Danish citizen to enter the country.
When he arrived in Denmark, he was immediately released, raising questions among Australian authorities.
According to an Interpol spokesman, Hassanien does not face any charges in Europe at this time, though he was recently convicted of setting fire to a private home in Denmark that is owned by an Egyptian.
In addition, procedural questions surrounding the arrest of the suspect also exist.
Also, it was reported that the FBI has an interest in interviewing Hassanien in connection with the bombing of the World Trade Center.
Steve Kelson, an Australian security official, said Hassanien’s group wants to further its goals by attacking “soft targets,” those not protected by professional security officers.
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