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Neena Bhandari in Sydney
Australia on Thursday confirmed that the captured terrorist in India, who was planning to attack Parliament House in New Delhi and targets in Australia and Britain, had undertaken flight training in 1997 and 1998 in their country.
Attorney General Daryl Williams said Australia was aware that a man was detained in India on suspicion of being linked with Osama bin Laden's network and that authorities were still investigating the veracity of his claim to commit terrorist attacks.
He also expressed gratitude to the Indian authorities for the arrest.
Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani disclosed in New Delhi on Wednesday based on confessions of the captured terrorist that Al Qaeda had planned to attack Britain, Australia and the Parliament House in New Delhi.
Advani had termed it as a 'massive conspiracy'.
Williams said he was briefed by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation about a man detained in India on suspicion of being linked to bin Laden's terrorist network.
"The man, who is not an Australian citizen, undertook flight training in Australia in 1997 and 1998. He left Australia in 1998. The man claims he undertook the training in order to commit terrorist attacks," he added.
Williams said the claims by the arrested terrorist should be taken seriously.
"We can be grateful for the fact that he has been arrested by Indian authorities and it just simply underlines the point that we do live in very dangerous times and all countries have to be much more vigilant with their security," he said.
"We have been aware of this information for some time and authorities are still investigating the veracity of this claim. However, there is no specific threat of terrorism in Australia. As the investigation is continuing, it is not appropriate to comment further on his claims," he said.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the confession proved Australia had to take security seriously.
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