Men trailed and knifed me - Habib

By Marian Wilkinson National Security Editor
August 24, 2005

Police are investigating an assault against the former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Mamdouh Habib, who says he was hit from behind and attacked with a knife by three men near his home in Guildford early on Monday.

In a statement to police, Mr Habib described being followed by a car that cut its headlights as he and his wife, Maha, went for a walk just after midnight.

"I was struck to the back of the head from someone behind me," he said. "I'm not sure what I was struck with but I don't think it was a fist.

"I turned around and pushed my wife away to protect her. I saw a male facing me with a knife in his hand."

Mr Habib said that one man lunged at him several times with the knife and he received a shallow cut in his stomach.

Mrs Habib said that as the men ran away the man holding the knife had yelled "something like 'this should keep you quiet"'.

Her husband said the three men were dressed in jumpers or jackets with hoods pulled over their heads and also wore caps.

Mrs Habib called the police and an ambulance but Mr Habib said he chose not to go to hospital, preferring to be treated at home because he was concerned for the safety of his family.

Earlier that night, while Mr Habib and his wife were having coffee with relatives at a cafe near his home, his son said he saw a suspicious car in the street.

After Mr Habib and his wife returned home there was a brief power cut.

When their children settled down, they told police they went for a brief walk to discuss things because, "we are worried the house is bugged".

ASIO has been monitoring Mr Habib since he was released from Guantanamo Bay, where he was held on suspicion of being a terrorist, an accusation he has denied.

Link Here