Topic: AUSTRALIA FIRE PHOTOS: Animals, Aerials & the Aftermath

[sam]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/photogalleries/australia-fires/index.html

[Rik]

It's very grim, isn't it, Sam. I hope they catch those responsible.

[Simon]

Indeed, although, I thought I heard on the news last night, that arson has yet to be proved.

[gmax]

Victorian police are close to releasing a photofit of a suspected arsonist operating in the Churchill area in Gippsland just days before last Saturday's inferno. Twenty-one people have so far been found dead in the ruins of the Gippsland inferno.
Some more photos here: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/bushfires_in_victoria_australi.html

[David]

My thoughts go out to all caught up in this its horrific 

[Simon]

Indeed, glad you're safe, gmax, and I've also heard from MB.  It's hard to imagine the mentality of the morons who have started these fires.

[David]

Thats a relief Simon I didn't like to ask but its good to know she is safe

[Sandra]

Anything coming out about the identity of the arsonists yet ?

I have seen a couple of reports saying that USA intelligence found a couple of websites suggesting that islamic terrorists could easily cause a lot of death, destruction and financial hardship by starting forest fires in Australia, Russia and Europe, around september last year 

"Forest Jihad" they were calling it, but as far as I can tell theres been no evidence of muslim involvement or even of anyone claiming responsibility yet.

[sam]

you know, Sandra, not all the sick people out there do things because of religious beliefs.

[Simon]

I can't see either that the fires could have been a terrorist or religious fueled attack.  You can't blame everything bad in the world on religion although, admittedly, it doesn't do a lot of good either.

[David]

I don't know but it could even be kids....we don't know yet,whatever wont change the dire consequences of their possible actions 

[Sandra]

you know, Sandra, not all the sick people out there do things because of religious beliefs.

Maybe not Sam but a hell of a lot do 

If the CIA have said that they uncovered some websites, including some known Al Quieda leaders calling for "forest jihad", then you cant just discount the possibility just because it seems impossible that someone would want to do that.
No one really thought that anyone would want to indiscriminantly kill thousands of people by flying planes into the twin towers, blowing up the trains in Madrid or blowing up the underground in London, but some sick b*****ds did. All in the name of their religion 

[Sandra]

Photofit of the man the police want to interview for starting some fires :

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1143282/Pictured-The-face-man-police-believe-set-Australian-bushland.html

Looks like an Indonesian or Asian guy to me and therefore its a good possibility that he could be a muslim dont you think Sam 

[David]

I see they have charged one man with arson and oddly processing child pornography pornography 

http://news.BBC.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7887561.stm

I don't know,its just a waste a very tragic one at that

[Simon]

They said he has serious mental issues.  No, really?