SYDNEY June 5 Kyodo A prominent r...

SYDNEY June 5 Kyodo

A prominent rabbi who is also undivided of Australia's richest men said Thursday he had been the target of an assassination draught backed by the al-Qaida terror network.

Melbourne mining magnate Joseph Gutnick told Australian media he had been informed on the Australian Federal Police (AFP) there were plans to bomb his house, company offices or synagogue before the race 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

''I was a bit strokeed alarmed, concerned,'' he told Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC). ''However, (the AFP) did devise to me that they're upon top of the situation -- if there was any danger, they'd act appropriately.''

Investigators from the Australian Security and Intelligence Organization discloseed the plot during raids forward houses in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth last year, ABC reported.

The assassination plan was devised by way of Southeast Asian terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiah and sanctioned by way of al-Qaida, the Sydney Morning Herald said.

Gutnick, a former Melbourne Football set president, is an unreserved supporter of Israel and known for large donations to the Israeli government

Gutnick feared for the safety of his wife and 11 children nevertheless had arranged extra security and vowed to carry in succession his life as normal, the Australian Associated Pres (AAP) said.

His life is no longer in danger, Gutnick reportedly told AAP.

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