John Howard Amundsen

Infobox Person
name = John Howard Amundsen


birth_date = 1966
image_size = 225px
caption =

John Howard Amundsen (born 1966) gained some notoriety in 2006 being one of the first Australians to be charged under new anti-terrorist laws. Initially suspected of being a part of a wider terrorist plot, it quickly became apparent that Amundsen acted alone and, sadly, was suffering from substantial psychiatric illness. An only child living with his mother in his Aspley childhood home, Amundsen was a loner who built few lastly friendships both at school and in the workplace. With a long time fascination with law-enforcement, it is interessting to note that a 1995 psychiatric assessment found that he suffered from a delusional disorder in which he claimed ongoing persecution by the Queensland police service. The same report noted his substantial intellect, allegedly describing him as being in the top 5 percentile of the population in terms of intelligence.

"In general, Mr Amundsen complained that he had been subjected to overwhelming harassment by a Queensland Police Service officer or officers over a significant period of time,” the report says. "He believed his driving and his home were subject to surveillance. He believed that he was stopped regularly and routinely on the roads for ‘random’ breath alcohol tests and other matters."

After completing Year 12 at St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace in 1983, Amundsen studied journalism at the Queensland University of Technology before being employed as a public relations staffer by the Brisbane Airport Corporation. During this period, notably the late Cold War, he reportedly began a period of flirtation with the secretive anti-communist Roman Catholic "order", the Knights of the Southern Cross.

After his employment as a journalist ended, he studied education and in recent times taught the subjects of Graphic Design and Industrial Technology and Design at Ferny Grove State High School. In this period, it appears that Amundsen descended into a downward psychiatric spiral in which he became an increasing risk to the community.

He has been sentenced to six years in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2008 with time served.

Bomb-making and Threat

By 2006, Amundsen had allegedly obtained more than 50 kg of explosives by using fake identification to obtain his desired materials from a film production company. He had claimed the explosives were for a private film which involved a car explosion.

Police made the discovery of these explosives during the execution of a search warrant on May 10 2006. In the search, officers from the bomb squad discovered many kilograms of an explosive powergel and a book about Osama Bin Laden.

Amundsen maintained this story to the police despite overwhelming contrary evidence. Police reports and released stated that when his Aspley home was raided he was in possession of four improvised home made explosive devices, some of which contained anti-personnel shrapnel such as nails and razor blades. Amundsen claimed the bombs were for a television shoot. He further claimed that he had ASIO clearance and access to secure areas of Brisbane airport.

John Amundsen's five home-made bombs, allegedly with enough to level five suburban blocks.

On the night of the police search, approximately, thirty residents in a five block area were forced to leave their homes around 7pm. Due to security concerns the bomb squad waited until dawn before entering the home. The five bombs reportedly contained enough powergel, nails, and razor blades to flatten the surrounding neighbourhood.

By mid-morning not all 53 kg had been accounted for at his house. Police cleared Ferny Grove State High School after evacuating more than one thousand students, fearing Amundsen may have concealed the explosives in a classroom. Amundsen also had also fraudulently obtained 10 electronic detonators, none of which were attached to bombs.

"It's alleged high school teacher, John Howard Amundsen bought 53 kilograms of power gel last week after forging documents to obtain the restricted substance," Detective Chief Superintendent Wilson said. It was midday before detectives gave the all-clear. In the end, all of the power gel was found at Amundsen's house along with a book written about Osama Bin Laden entitled "The Mask behind the Terrorist". Locals described the man as a bit of a loner and said he was behaving strangely the previous weekend when he was spotted walking down the street wearing full-length industrial gloves.

References

* [http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,19125510%255E911,00.html Bombs man 'delusional'] The Advertiser, 14 May 2006.
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bin-laden-in-the-classroom/2006/05/10/1146940613219.html Bin Laden in the classroom] Sydney Morning Herald, 11 May, 2006.
* [http://au.news.yahoo.com/060510/23/ywi5.html School teacher faces court over bombs] Yahoo7 News, 11 May 2006