John Howard Amundsen

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John Howard Amundsen is a Australian terror suspect.

A 1995 psychiatric assessment said that he suffered from a delusional disorder, claiming persecution by the Queensland police. It also described him as being in the top 5 percent of intelligence.

By 2006, he had allegedly obtained more than 50kg of explosives using fake identification. He had four bombs, some of which contained nails and razor blades. He claimed the bombs were for a television shoot. He also claimed that he had ASIO clearance and access to secure areas of Brisbane airport.

[edit] THE FIND - MR. AMUNDSEN

John Howard Amundsen taught, with some enthusiasm, the subjects of Graphic Design and Industrial Technology and Design at Ferny Grove State High School. The teacher insisted on planning things well in advance and reading plans carefully. John Amundsen constructed five home-made bombs packing enough explosives to level five suburban blocks. Police made the horrifying discovery during the execution of a search warrant. They were stunned by what they discovered - many kilograms of an extremely dangerous explosive powergel and a book about Osama Bin Laden. Thirty residents in a five block area were force to leave their homes around 7pm. The bomb squad had to wait until dawn before it was "safe" enough to enter the home. The five bombs had enough enough powergel, nails, and razor blades to flatten the surrounding neighbourhood. By mid-morning not all 53kg had been accounted for at his house. Police cleared Ferny Grove High School after evacuating more than one thousand students, fearing Amundsen may have stashed the explosive 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.

Accused terrorist John Howard Amundsen developed a grudge against police more than a decade ago and believed officers were persecuting him. A psychiatric assessment in 1995 found he had a delusional disorder. A report from psychiatrist Ian Curtis details a feud between Mr Amundsen and police.

"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."