French police identify suspect in Paris-Miami flight as a Sri Lankan national

AP ^ | 12-23-01 | PAMELA SAMPSON

[Oldeconomybuyer]

PARIS (AP) -- French police said Sunday the man who boarded a jetliner with possible explosives hidden in his shoes was a Sri Lankan national traveling on a British passport.

American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami was forced to make an emergency landing in Boston on Saturday after the passenger, identified by French police as Tariq Raja, tried to ignite what authorities called an improvised explosive in his sneakers.

[kinghorse]

Actually to be more productive and to insure the perps and their kindreds understand the risk they are taking by attacking the USA and it's assets (our airlines and people) I suggest we trace this dog back to his home village and present him to them for punishment. His tribal family should be given the option to put him out of his misery or face massive retaliation from Uncle Sam.

The whole vilage needs to assemble and witness his execution and then their elders should be required to draft a statement absolutely condemning his act of terrorism. Failing that, bomb the f out of them.

[agrace]

His left eye does look a bit swollen, doesn't it? :)

[vannrox]

I heard on the news that the White House is stating that this fellow is not a terrorist associated with the Bin Laden Organizaation. If this report is true, then I have some questions...


How can a Non-terrorist get ahold of C4 explosive?
How come his race, age, sex, and appearance fit the Bin Laden terrorist Profile?
How can a non-terrorist obtain a forged British Passport?
Why would a non-terrorist want to blowup an American Airlines Jet?
How come the Police were alerted for Terrorist activity having to do with shoes?
Where was the "sky marshal"?
How did he manage to get a pack of matches aboard the plane?

[a_witness]

Isn't Gibraltar a corruption of an Arabic word meaning Fort Tariq?

Mount Tariq AKA Gibralter

Tariq finally sailed with his men in April 711 and landed at the foot of the mountain which was later named after him, Jabal Tariq, Gibralter. From there he led his troops to a nearby sea port and captured it with little effort giving it the name al-Jazirah al-Khadra', Algeciras. Other fortifications around the area likewise fell to the invading forces with relative ease.

[Capt. Tom]

They said two doctors had sedated this guy on the plane. I supposed he has no idea where the hell he is at when that photo was take.

He is probably wondering why it is so damn cold in Miami. -Tom

[anymouse]

FNN just said that this perp tried to get on the same flight the day before, but he was refused because he was suspicious. Damn frogs didn't check him out, they just let him go to try again the next day. They didn't even warn the ticket agents or flight crews.

[anymouse]

A good friend of mine grew up in Sri Lanka. This perp doesn't look anything like a Sri Lankan. Definately an arab Al Queda with multiple fake ids. He may have set up a phony background in Sri Lanka, since few have a clue where Sri Lanka is or what Sri Lankans look like.

At 6ft+, only Sheiks come that tall in the India region. Even tall for an arab.

Wonder if this guy was one of OBL's doubles sent for one last dirty deed? LOL

[freeperfromnj]

As long as they let individuals who look like this on airplanes, I will not fly. If this guy doesn't look suspicious, then who does?

Well said. I couldn't agree more. Thank goodness the crew and passengers were alert -- security certainly wasn't.

[VOA]

I suggested we use bomb sniffing pigs. They are good with scents, and I somehow think
it may be an extra deterrent.

1. There goes the illicit smuggling of truffles (not those chocolate truffles).(LOL!)
2. Muslims subjected to being sniffed by a pig...maybe an added treat when once they are
convicted and in prison...but probably not a good idea for general Muslim population!

[cidrasm]

Dogs are best used to inspect individual passengers who arouse suspicions, he said.

A passenger who doesn't have any luggage getting on a transatlantic flight isn't suspicious?

[cidrasm]

I heard on the news that the White House is stating that this fellow is not a terrorist associated with the Bin Laden Organizaation. If this report is true, then I have some questions...

How can a Non-terrorist get ahold of C4 explosive?

How did you get the idea of him NOT being a terrorist from the above? He's just not a member of al-Queda according to the White House. Not all terrorists belong to al-Queda.

How come his race, age, sex, and appearance fit the Bin Laden terrorist Profile?

It would fit any Islamic terrorist organization.

How can a non-terrorist obtain a forged British Passport?

He's not a non-terrorist, and anyone can get a fake passport if you know who to go to. Our covert intelligence folks get fake passports all the time, does that make them terrorists?

Why would a non-terrorist want to blowup an American Airlines Jet?

He's not a non-terrorist.

How come the Police were alerted for Terrorist activity having to do with shoes?

Where did you read/get this information? I haven't seen this. A link would be nice.

Where was the "sky marshal"?

What makes you think one of the passengers that helped subdue him wasn't?

How did he manage to get a pack of matches aboard the plane?

The same way I have gotten lighters and matches aboard every flight since Sept. 11. I carried it on. It's not illegal.

[FITZ]

not ALL 'arab' terrorists are Arabs

It is interesting about John Walker, he wasn't Arab but he got a very similar look after he turned Muslim. And Christian Arabs don't look like this guy, they look like Europeans. It must have something to do with Islam itself.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, fundamentalist islam sure turns people ugly...