Posted on 12/10/2005 10:27:31 AM PST by Irish_Thatcherite
Gardaí in Mayo are liasing with police in Northern Ireland after it emerged that Knock Airport had been identified as a potential target for an Al Qaeda suicide bomber.
Claims that the West’s airport was a target for Osama bin Laden disciple, Abbas Boutrab, who spent his time fixated on fine-tuning how to blow up passenger jets, is of “considerable concern” to Gardaí, the Western People has learned.
Reports suggest that Algerian-born Boutrab, who is believed to have used up to ten false identities before he was apprehended by police in the North, carried out several dummy runs at Knock and Dublin airports. 27-year-old Boutrab, who was found guilty last month of collecting and possessing information connected with terrorism, which he had downloaded from the Internet, is the first Al Qaeda suspect to be convicted in Ireland. A Garda spokesperson told the Western People that the Gardaí had no definite information regarding Boutrab’s plans for Mayo’s airport but they were treating the situation with “considerable concern”.
“We’re liaising with the Police Service in Northern Ireland in relation to the matter.”
Detailed documents found in Boutrab’s flat could have been used to construct a bomb capable of downing an aircraft, Belfast Crown Court heard during the seven-week trial.
The instructions claimed the incendiary device would be planted in baby talcum powder canisters and easily smuggled onto an aeroplane for assembly in the toilet by a suicide bomber.
The instructions also advised the bomber to work alone and urged the volunteer to “blow the aircraft up with yourself and may God accept you”.
The FBI built the bomb Boutrab had designed by using the blue prints found in his Antrim flat. The device was then detonated in an old plane to show its deadly effectiveness.
Knock Airport bosses have dismissed the reports saying they are not aware of any evidence to support the claims.
“We’re also not aware of any high risk alerts,” Head of Operations, Robert Grealis told the Western People. Mr Grealis said the safety of passenger was a priority and insisted that Knock’s security was of the highest standards.
“Our security system complies with the standards set for all international airports. It’s constantly revised and updated and is open to the scrutiny of the Department of Transport.”
Boutrab, who was described as a “very dangerous man” and a “determined terrorist” by the PSNI, will be sentenced on December 19.
Dear God, I live under a flight path from that airport.
I wonder if Al Qaeda got the thumbs up from their Sinn Fein/IRA allies?
Heh. I was about to ping you to this... then I saw you'd posted it.
Wasn't it Robert Fisk who nominated Ireland to be on the Al Qaeda list of targets? I think he argued they'd make a good target because they allowed U.S. military cargo planes to refuel there.
The paper I posted from was sitting at home in my house, but I never took notice of the headline until yesterday!!
I have cousins near Cork and they are a bit blase` about Arab terrorists. I hope this is a wake up call that will be heeded, though I am sorry it is necessary.
It's just I don't normally read the paper - my parents always buy it.
All airports are on their "list". They'll take any old airfield at this point. They are desperate. We are winning.
That's true, just one thing though, the airport is actually an international airport, even though it is in a rural area, it's long story involving a monsignor...
I have no idea what that is supposed to mean.
Nothing and no one is safe from the hate of the Muslim sons of Satan.
Sorry for being obscure.
Ireland is officially neutral - but Irishman have individually fought in all the major wars in history, 40,000 volunteered to fight for the Allies in the Second World War, I actually don't believe neutrality is protection - we escaped the Nazis and the Soviets by the grace of God and the Allies, not because we were non-aligned.
Hurrah!
This is fairly old news but hardly reported at all. It is amazing times we live in when a terrorist plans to blow up an Irish airport and the media shrugs it's shoulders. Remember, this scumbag has already been found guilty.
Hit the nail on the head 68sky. Their efforts have enadangered us all - well done to them.
I think we're probably in agreement here. But a part of your comment is unclear to me -- sorry if I'm being dense. Who is the "them" you're referring to? Is it the terrorists? Or do you have someone else in mind?
Definitely time to end Irish neutrality. The powers that be are very lacksadaisical and don't take this seriously enough which makes Ireland a perfect target for islamic terrorism.
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