FED: Journo denies terror raid interference

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2009
FED: Journo denies terror raid interference

The journalist who broke the story on Victoria's terror raids says he had no influence
on the timing of them .. which he says were always planned for Tuesday.

NSW's top anti-terror police officer PETER DEIN claims they were forced to move early
.. after The Australian newspaper became aware of the story.

Reporter CAMERON STEWART has told ABC radio the Australian Federal Police asked him
to publish the story on Tuesday and not before then .. after telling them he had been
leaked information on the raids.

He says from then police helped coordinate the newspaper's response.

Federal Attorney-General ROBERT McCLELLAND will now consider adopting new protocols
to deal with media leaks .. amid concerns about how the operation unfolded.

AAP RTV cj/so/sw

KEYWORD: TERROR MEDIA (CANBERRA)

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