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Hijack suspect 'had US embassy target' (MORE ON UK BOUND HIJACKER)
BBC News ^ | August 31, 2002 | BBC News

Posted on 08/31/2002 6:04:12 AM PDT by MadIvan

A man arrested in Sweden on suspicion he was about to hijack a plane, was planning to crash the aircraft into a US embassy in Europe, according to a Reuters report. Swedish intelligence sources told the news agency that the 29-year-old Swedish man may have been working with others on the plan.

Police are looking for four more men, including an explosives expert.

A military intelligence source told Reuters: "We know for sure that the plan was to crash the plane into a US embassy in Europe."

The suspected would-be hijacker is still being questioned in Sweden after trying to board a flight for Stansted in the UK.

The alleged attempt to hijack the plane was first written off as amateurish by experts.

The suspect was arrested after a gun was found in his hand luggage.

But the Reuters report will shake US officials around the world and raise fears of another 11 September-style attack.

Swedish police are trying to establish whether he has any connection to extreme Muslim groups such as al-Qaeda.

The man - named in some newspapers as Kerim Chatty - denied knowledge of the gun and said he was on his way to an Islamic conference in Birmingham in central England.

Previous convictions

The conference is for followers of the Salafi school of Islamic thought, believed to have connections to Osama Bin Laden, the 11 September hijackers and alleged plane shoe-bomber Richard Reid.

British police - said to include anti-terrorism experts from Scotland Yard - are working closely with their Swedish counterparts on the case.

Police spokesman Ulf Palm said the suspect had previous convictions for theft and assault, Mr Palm added.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the arrest showed "the threat of international terrorism remains".

The man, who was arrested at Vasteras airport, 100km (60 miles) north-west of Stockholm, was born in Sweden to Tunisian parents.

The suspect was part of a group with 18 other adults and two children apparently bound for the Birmingham meeting.

The leaders of the Salafi school have always denounced acts of violence or terrorism and organisers of the conference condemned the latest incident, adding they did not believe the suspect was going to attend.

Prosecutors in Sweden have until early next week to decide whether to bring formal charges against the man.

Hijacking carries a sentence of between six months and life imprisonment in Sweden.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: chatty; hijacker; islam; kerimchatty; sweden; uk; us
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It's likely they would have hit the Embassy in London if any at all - it stands out in Grosvenor Square.

Regards, Ivan

1 posted on 08/31/2002 6:04:12 AM PDT by MadIvan
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To: JohnHuang2; Miss Marple
Bump!
2 posted on 08/31/2002 6:04:35 AM PDT by MadIvan
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To: MadIvan
Thanks for the heads-up, amigo.
3 posted on 08/31/2002 6:06:36 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
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To: hchutch; AuntB; nunya bidness; GrandmaC; Washington_minuteman; buffyt; Grampa Dave; blackie; ...

4 posted on 08/31/2002 6:07:08 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
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To: MadIvan
Naturally, he's not a true Swede, he's Islamic.
5 posted on 08/31/2002 6:10:01 AM PDT by I_Love_My_Husband
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To: MadIvan
London...that was my first thought also. LOVE the Marriott next door!
6 posted on 08/31/2002 6:10:32 AM PDT by Ann Archy
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To: MadIvan
Ivan can you include me in that ping list of yours.....thanks..
7 posted on 08/31/2002 6:12:38 AM PDT by Dog
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To: grlfrnd
Naturally, he's not a true Swede, he's Islamic.

Naturally. ;)

Regards, Ivan

8 posted on 08/31/2002 6:12:51 AM PDT by MadIvan
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To: Ann Archy
London...that was my first thought also. LOVE the Marriott next door!

The US Embassy in London is definitely the most exposed. The one in Paris on the Rue de Fourbourg-Saint Honore is too well nestled in with the other buildings. Same goes for the one in Amsterdam. London would be the easiest to hit. Not that this hijacker could find his head with both hands. ;)

Regards, Ivan

9 posted on 08/31/2002 6:14:13 AM PDT by MadIvan
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To: MadIvan
Never ceases to amaze me, the POWER of money....sighs~
10 posted on 08/31/2002 6:20:00 AM PDT by Bad~Rodeo
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To: grlfrnd
After all every one knows that Islam is a religeon of peace
11 posted on 08/31/2002 6:20:46 AM PDT by Nebr FAL owner
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To: MadIvan
and said he was on his way to an Islamic conference in Birmingham in

If we just cluster bomb the place, we will reduce the number of terrorists, right?

12 posted on 08/31/2002 6:23:56 AM PDT by RaceBannon
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To: Nebr FAL owner
After all every one knows that Islam is a religeon of peace

Absolutely. In fact "Islam" means "peace". What? Don't look at that man behind the curtain holding up the cue card that says "It actually means 'Submission'". ;)

Regards, Ivan

13 posted on 08/31/2002 6:24:29 AM PDT by MadIvan
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To: RaceBannon
If we just cluster bomb the place, we will reduce the number of terrorists, right?

I just had tea with my Gran - she's a police widow and just came back from visiting the lads down at the nick - apparently the police are taking down the details of EVERYONE at this conference. They'll be followed - and if they even pass wind in the wrong direction, bang.

Regards, Ivan

14 posted on 08/31/2002 6:26:35 AM PDT by MadIvan
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To: MadIvan
organisers of the conference condemned the latest incident, adding they did not believe the suspect was going to attend.

oh, that's rich... we will kill all the infidels where they stand, er, no wait... we have no knowledge, um...

15 posted on 08/31/2002 6:32:21 AM PDT by glock rocks
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To: glock rocks
oh, that's rich... we will kill all the infidels where they stand, er, no wait... we have no knowledge, um...

"I can neither confirm nor deny...erm, well it depends on the meaning of is...erm, I did not have sex with that camel..."

Regards, Ivan

16 posted on 08/31/2002 6:33:40 AM PDT by MadIvan
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To: glock rocks
organisers of the conference condemned the latest incident, adding they did not believe the suspect was going to attend.

As in "We believe he was going to be slightly indisposed"?

17 posted on 08/31/2002 6:40:18 AM PDT by Cachelot
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To: MadIvan
The leaders of the Salafi school have always denounced acts of violence or terrorism and organisers of the conference condemned the latest incident, adding they did not believe the suspect was going to attend.

If they thought the suspect was going to 9/11 the US embassy with the plane, then it would be Clintonesquely truthful for them to say "they did not believe the suspect was going to attend".

18 posted on 08/31/2002 6:42:42 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor
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To: MadIvan
Towers are one thing, picking out a flat building among dozens of others at 500 mph is another.

Our mission to HRH is distinctive from the ground, but I don't believe any of these camel drivers could hit it with a plane.

I don't think they could have done the White House, either. The Capitol, maybe.

19 posted on 08/31/2002 6:43:52 AM PDT by Jim Noble
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To: MadIvan
The man - named in some newspapers as Kerim Chatty - denied knowledge of the gun and said he was on his way to an Islamic conference in Birmingham in central England.

Special Branch and Five need to photograph and trace every single participant in the Terrorist Conference. I hope the UK realizes just how much they have been infiltrated by Islamic vermin. Just like here in the US.

Europe is sinking under the weight of Islamic immigration, its just a matter of time before some of the continetal countries lose their majority. I hope this doesnt happen to the UK as I lived there for six years of my life. Aside from Italy, I dont care what happens to the rest of the continent because of their appeasement of the Islamists and their dislike for America.

20 posted on 08/31/2002 6:45:04 AM PDT by cardinal4
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