Former Al-Qaeda operative who became a spy claims he thwarted Sydney Olympics terror attack

A FORMER Al-Qaeda operative-turned-British spy claims he stopped the terror group from launching a devastating attack on the Sydney Olympics.

Aimen Dean went to Afghanistan early 20s, he told the ABC’s 7.30, working with high-ranking terrorists to fight for his religion.

“I was in the research and development department... (but) R & D here stands for research and destruction lets say,” Mr Dean told 7.30.

He trained under explosive experts as a bomb maker, even rubbing shoulders with 9/11 masterminds.

Mr Dean described the moment he gave his allegiance to terror leader Osama bin Laden as “life changing”.

“It was, of course, a pivotal moment,” Mr Dean said.

While his commitment at the beginning was strong, Mr Dean said he quickly changed his tune when Al-Qaeda carried out twin bombings on US embassies in Africa that left 200 people dead.

He could not see any religious justification for the bombings, and believed suicide was forbidden by the Koran

“I couldn’t live with myself basically if I continued to live with them,” he told 7.30.

Three months after the attacks, Mr Dean got his hands on his passport, where he flew to Qatar who handed him to British authorities.

It was they who convinced him to return to Afghanistan as a spy, where he worked for seven years before his cover was blown in 2006.

Mr Dean described the moment he gave his allegiance to terror leader Osama bin Laden as “life changing”.

“It was, of course, a pivotal moment,” Mr Dean said.

While his commitment at the beginning was strong, Mr Dean said he quickly changed his tune when Al-Qaeda carried out twin bombings on US embassies in Africa that left 200 people dead.

He could not see any religious justification for the bombings, and believed suicide was forbidden by the Koran

“I couldn’t live with myself basically if I continued to live with them,” he told 7.30.

Three months after the attacks, Mr Dean got his hands on his passport, where he flew to Qatar who handed him to British authorities.

It was they who convinced him to return to Afghanistan as a spy, where he worked for seven years before his cover was blown in 2006.

He fed information to western intelligence authorities the entire time, and is credited for thwarting dozens of plots. One being the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Intelligence officials had asked the undercover spy to check if attacks were planned, and he negotiated with the Taliban’s sports minister, who was upset his team wasn’t competing.

“I told him, the only reason you’re not invited is because they believe you’re hosting Al-Qaeda, and that Al-Qaeda... might be planning another (attack) for the Olympics,” Mr Dean told 7.30.

He pretended he had a cousin who could get him an invite.

“The Taliban were extended an invitation, which lasted all the way until two days before the opening ceremony and then it was rescinded; just enough for them not to be able to put in place any plots,” he said.

While Al-Qaeda has been quite for some years, Mr Dean warns they could launch a “spectacular attack”.

“Al-Qaeda is actually hibernating at the moment, just like ISIS was hibernating in 2010,” he said.

He said they could again spread a wave of terror once Osama bin Laden’s son is installed as their new leader.

“When the time is right, when Al-Qaeda feel that they have a strong foundation for them to stand on, they will present Hamza bin Laden to the world as their new leader,” Mr Dead told 7.30.

“And they will only do that once they have carried out a spectacular attack against a western target, especially the US.

“Remember, Hamza bin Laden will never forgive the US for the fact they killed his father.”