Al-Qaeda is preparing an attack on a major financial centre in Asia, and Australia is a potential target, France’s top terrorist investigator has warned. Jean-Louis Bruguiere told London’s Financial Times that authorities are underestimating the ability of the Islamic terror organisation to destabilise South-East Asia. Al-Qaeda was “sharpening its strategy . . . looking to hit economic and financial centres”, he said. “Any attack on a financial market, like Japan, would mechanically have an important economic impact on the confidence of investors,” he said. “Other countries in this region, such as Singapore and Australia, are also potential targets.” Mr Bruguiere, an investigating magistrate who briefed Australian Federal Police after his interviews of deported French terror suspect Willie Brigitte, said such an attack would be symbolically important. Full Story