Australian Joe Gutnick targetted for assassination by Al-Qaeda

Mining magnate Joe Gutnick was the target of an assassination plot sanctioned by the al-Qaeda terrorist group before the September 11 attacks.

Mr Gutnick was told of the plan to bomb his house, synagogue or company offices in St Kilda, Melbourne, by Australian Federal Police late last year.

The Australian newspaper reported maps and other evidence in the death plot were discovered during raids by ASIO on suspected members of Jemaah Islamiah in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth last October.

Mr Gutnick, a prominent supporter of anti-Palestinian politics in Israel, told the newspaper one man had profiles on his companies, and knew where he lived and prayed.

"He was planning to kill me. He was going to bomb up the whole area," Mr Gutnick told the newspaper.

The newspaper said it was understood the assassination was approved by three lieutenants from Osama bin Laden's terror organisation.