quade 4 #1 January 27, 2003 http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5891743%255E421,00.html Quote Jihad arrest stuns friend By Chris Tinkler 26jan03 THE former girlfriend of Jack "Jihad" Thomas has claimed the terror suspect was "just an average Aussie" as it emerged he is likely to face charges in Pakistan. Michelle Wolfenden said Thomas was quiet but confident, normal and sometimes romantic, a keen skydiver who was devoted to his passions and used to getting his own way. Ms Wolfenden said she was shocked to learn of the 29-year-old's arrest in Karachi this month on suspicion of links to the al-Qaida terrorist group. It has been reported Thomas converted to Islam for love and became so engrossed in the religion that it led him to a mystery life in Pakistan and investigation by the intelligence agencies of several countries. Ms Wolfenden and Thomas went out together in 1993 and 1994. They met at a skydiving camp near Loddon and quickly became close. "Sitting around the camp fire at night talking, you get to know people, and he just asked me out," Ms Wolfenden said. "He was cute and he thought I was cute, and it went from there." Thomas was training to be a chef at the time and was living in Williamstown with his parents, Ian and Patsy. Over the next few months, Ms Wolfenden and Thomas spent weekends together playing pool, listening to music, dining out at restaurants in Chapel St and Carlton or going to the movies. One favourite haunt was the former Church Cafe in Chapel St -- now Bridie O'Reilly's. "He was quite trendy and he was romantic," Ms Wolfenden said. "He used to take me out to dinner and buy flowers. "And he enjoyed cooking. Sometimes he would come over to my shared house in Hoppers Crossing and cook dinner. "He was a very calm, not at all aggressive. I can't imagine him ever wanting to hurt anyone. "I never, ever saw him lose his temper. "He just seemed an easy-going, average guy. I took him to a friend's 21st birthday party and he was pretty happy to sit in a circle and just chat. "When I saw his picture, and read he was accused of links to al- Qaida, I almost had a heart attack. I just couldn't believe it was the same person. "It wasn't the guy I remember. I was surprised he was even studying to be a cleric, because I don't recollect him ever talking about religion. "We never discussed our values." But Ms Wolfenden said Thomas was extremely committed to his training as a chef. "Every Sunday night he would sharpen his knives in his shed," she said. She said one of the reasons the relationship did not last was that Thomas was used to getting his own way and did not like compromising. Ms Wolfenden is now happily married with one child, and another on the way, and lives just outside Bairnsdale. Thomas's mother, Patsy, has told friends he converted to Islam because he fell in love with Maryati, an Indonesian Muslim and Monash University student. Mrs Thomas has reportedly said that Maryati would not marry her son unless he converted to Islam. "He agreed, and became a fanatic," one friend said. Thomas married Maryati in 1999 and went to Pakistan in early 2001 to study to be an Islamic cleric, according to the family. ASIO revealed last year it wanted to question Thomas because it believed he may have trained in an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan or Pakistan. He was arrested while trying to board a plane to return to Melbourne. Pakistani officials have said they are certain to charge Thomas, who is being detained under anti-terrorism legislation, according to reports on Friday. But Rob Stary, Thomas's lawyer, said yesterday that he did not believe the charges would be related to the alleged sightings of Thomas at terrorist training camps. "I would think at the most he could be charged with something relating to an association with Taliban sympathisers, or a possible immigration offence, although we don't know that is the case," Mr Stary said. quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #2 January 27, 2003 Good thing he didn't have his rig with him when he was detained or we'd all be fucked I'm sure."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
