Alleged Terrorist Plotter Claims He Worked At Melbourne Phone Retailer
Days after a terrorist attack at a Berlin Christmas market, Zakaria Dabboussi, 20, an IT worker whose LinkedIn profile claims that he works for Melbourne based retailer, Australia GSM World has been arrested by Victorian Police investigating a terrorist attack in Melbourne.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Dabboussi started work at GSM World in 2010 which would make him 14 years of age. When ChannelNews called the Company today they claimed that they did not know a “Zakaria” or that a person of that name worked for the Company.
Zakaria Dabboussi
Information Technology and Services Professional
Claims that he works at Australian GSM World.
When it was pointed out that the arrested person LinkedIn profile indicated that he was currently employed at GSM World the person on the end of the phone suddenly said “I do not understand you. What am I supposed to do” when we repeated our questions in English the employee at GSM world who did not give his name said “I do not understand you”.
The retailer who describes themselves Australia GSM World, was originally called Tunjay Electronic. The Company has been operating for 12 years and has retail stores in Victoria at Chadstone Shopping Centre, Broadmeadows, Craigieburn Australia GSM World – Craigieburn Central, 340 Craigieburn Road, Craigieburn, Highpoint Shopping Centre, Southland Shopping Centre, Cheltenham, Northland Shopping Centre, Preston and in Thailand.
The Managing Director of Australian GSM World is Tunjay Akyldiz, he did not return our calls.
Zakaria Dabboussi comes from Gladstone Park according to police sources.
Victorian Police conducted a series of raids in Victoria and the arrest of several people has foiled a potential “multi-model” Christmas day attack potentially using explosives, guns and knives in Federation Square and St. Paul’s Cathedral on Christmas Day Police claim.
Mr Dabboussi was among seven arrested and five who remain in custody after police stopped what police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said was a potential multimode attack at Federation Square, Flinders Street Station and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Those in custody are all men: a 24-year-old from Meadow Heights, a 26-year-old from Dallas, a 22-year-old from Campbellfield, and 21-year-olds from Flemington and Gladstone Park, according to the AFP.
Zakaria Dabboussi
Information Technology and Services Professional
Claims that he works at Australian GSM World.
A 20-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, both from Meadow Heights, were released without charge.
Chief Commissioner Ashton said the attack, using “explosive devices” was “mostly likely” set to be carried out on Christmas Day.
Apart from explosives, police also suspect guns and knives may have been used. Police said the suspects were “self-radicalised” but inspired by Islamic State.
Prime Malcolm Turnbull “I want to thank the men and women of the police in Victoria, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO”and other agencies for their work in thwarting this terrorist activity, which was an Islamist terrorist plot inspired – as the Victorian police commissioner just observed a moment ago – by Daesh or ISIL,” Mr Turnbull said in a press conference.
UPDATE: Police later released Zakaria Dabboussi without charge.
