MELBOURNE, Australia — Thirteen men accused of belonging to a terrorist cell that was plotting a major attack in Australia pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday.

The men, all Muslims, were among 18 suspects arrested last year in coordinated pre-dawn raids in Melbourne and Sydney in a two-year operation police said prevented a catastrophic terror attack in Australia, possibly targeting a nuclear reactor in southern Sydney.

The 13 appeared in the Victorian state Supreme Court to plead not guilty to belonging to a terrorist organization and other terrorism-related offenses. The remaining five suspects were arrested in Sydney, where they are awaiting trial.

The alleged spiritual leader of the group, Algerian-born Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr, made headlines last year when he told the national broadcast network that Osama bin Laden was “a great man.” Abu Bakr pleaded not guilty Monday to directing the group’s activities and possessing a CD related to the planning for a terrorist act.

It was not immediately clear what maximum penalties the men face if convicted.

Authorities have offered few details, but have alleged some of the suspects trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan and met bin Laden.

Source: AP