Alleged terrorist's name revealed

[Kiwi]

Alleged terrorist's name revealed
4:47PM Thursday October 25, 2007
By David Eames
Omar Hamed


Another of 17 alleged terrorists rounded up in nationwide police swoops last week can now be revealed.

He is Omar Hamed, a 19-year-old Auckland man facing three charges of illegal possession of a firearm.

It is alleged Hamed - a Palestinian, born in Greece, but raised on the North Shore - was twice in possession of firearm in Tauranga between January 10 and January 14 this year, then was in possession of a semi-automatic rifle, in Auckland, between September 13 and September 16.

Hamed won an award for an article he wrote for the College Herald while he was a student at Takapuna Grammar School and was instrumental in setting up Radical Youth, an anti-capitalist organisation for young people.

His lawyer Anthony Rogers last week failed in a District Court bid to prevent publication of his name and picture, but appealed Judge Josephine Bouchier's ruling to the High Court.

However, the deadline for that application past at 4.30pm today.

Hamed is currently in custody, awaiting an Auckland District Court appearance on November 1.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10472072