Whereabouts Unknown: Terror Suspect Failed to Show for Christmas Eve Flight

abc ^ | 1/6/04

[knak]

Jan. 6— Authorities across Europe are searching for a passenger suspected of having links to al Qaeda who failed to show up for an Air France flight on Christmas Eve, ABCNEWS has learned.

U.S. law enforcement officials believe the male passenger underwent terrorist training in Afghanistan. The ongoing search for the man — who was traveling with a French passport — is one of the factors contributing to the continuing security jitters about trans-Atlantic flights, officials said.

French officials told ABCNEWS the man is feared to have a small bomb whose components might get past airport security.

The man had a ticket for Air France's Flight 68 from Paris to Los Angeles on Dec. 24, but the flight was canceled and the passenger never showed up at the airport, U.S. and French officials told ABCNEWS.

The man is being sought across Europe. Former French defense official Alexis Debat says the French fear they canceled the flight too soon, tipping him off.

"Nobody knows where he is and that is a big concern throughout Europe," said Debat, an ABCNEWS consultant. "The French are concerned that they may have dropped the ball."

The man's identity and description have been passed on to security officials in London, adding to other potential threats being dealt with there.

"This person will also have several other pieces or documents, aliases, several passports," Debat said.

As part of the search for the one suspect, French officials today carried out two raids today near the city of Lyon and in a small town north of Paris, based in part on U.S. intelligence information.

"You have to hit at the head, which is the logistical network that enables the person to travel back and forth," said Debat.

As well as the Air France flights, several other U.S.-bound flights were canceled or delayed over the holidays, including British Airways flights from London to Washington.

[Dog]

French officials told ABCNEWS the man is feared to have a small bomb whose components might get past airport security.

Holy freaking moly!!!

[aculeus]

The man's identity and description have been passed on to security officials in London, adding to other potential threats being dealt with there.

Why not go public with the description?

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[knak]

French are concerned that they may have dropped the ball."

gee, ya' think?

[Dog]

Remember that raid we discussed today..

As part of the search for the one suspect, French officials today carried out two raids today near the city of Lyon and in a small town north of Paris, based in part on U.S. intelligence information.

[Dog]

This is worse than we thought....he could board a flight from any country in Europe....

[over3Owithabrain]

Thanks France, you f**kups.

But somehow Bush will get mocked for all the airplane cacellations, when it's all Pepe LePew's fault

[knak]

one more "dropping" of the ball and he could be here

[Dog]

The intel was excellent.....we had him...but the French screwed it up.

[maestro]

"This person will also have several other pieces or documents, aliases, several passports," ...

Big business in EUrope?

[over3Owithabrain]

Makes you wonder if the French really cancelled the flight in error. They are our enemies in the terror war.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Has anyone checked BBC to see if there's a picture out there somewhere?

[sweetliberty]

"the French fear they canceled the flight too soon, tipping him off."

Yes, it would have made so much more sense to allow him to board the plane, then when the bomb went off, they'd know for sure where he was. < /sarcasm >

"The French are concerned that they may have dropped the ball."

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I think the French dropped the ball a LONG time ago. Hard to hang onto the ball when you have your hands in the air.

[Shermy]

As part of the search for the one suspect, French officials today carried out two raids today near the city of Lyon and in a small town north of Paris, based in part on U.S. intelligence information.

Which connects this story to...

Father of Guantanamo Bay Suspect Detained

[sweetliberty]

"Why not go public with the description?"

That should be pretty easy.....male of Arab descent, between 20 and 45. Oh yeah, the terrorists might get offended if we use such a description, so they probably won't. Can't be profiling now, can we?

[Dog]

They got this guys support cell it looks like Shermy...

[Dog]

Some of those detained are believed to have provided logistical support, possibly including false papers, to suspected terrorists, police said, without providing further details.

[knak]

story from August:Terror alert over stolen passports

The U.S. State Department says it fears some 5,000 French passports stolen last month may end up in the hands of traffickers or terrorists.

U.S. authorities say French officials have told them the passports were stolen from France's national passport office in Marseilles.

[NittanyLion]

"The French are concerned that they may have dropped the ball."

May have?