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British citizen arrested -- tried to smuggle missile into US
Minn. Star Tribune ^

Posted on 08/12/2003 2:43:04 PM PDT by sdk7x7

WASHINGTON -- The FBI has arrested a British man as part of an international sting operation involving an alleged plot to smuggle shoulder-fired missiles into the United States, authorities said Tuesday. The man was arrested in Newark, N.J., according to a senior law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity. The man's name and the charges were not immediately available. The arrest was part of a broader investigation by the FBI, British and Russian authorities, the official said. More arrests were expected. It was not immediately clear whether the plot was connected to al-Qaida or some other terrorist network. Justice Department officials had no immediate comment on the case. Concerns about terrorists using lightweight rocket launchers to take down commercial airliners increased in November after an unsuccessful attack on a chartered Israeli jet in Mombasa, Kenya. Officials believe al-Qaida launched the attack, which coincided with a bomb blast at a nearby hotel. The United States also has sent aviation experts to Iraq and major capitals in Europe and Asia to assess the security of commercial airports. The investigators are determining whether the airports can be defended against shoulder-fired missiles. World leaders meeting in Evian, France, in June acknowledged the threat and adopted a plan to restrict sales of the weapons. In the United States, the Homeland Security Department also is asking high-tech companies to propose ways to protect airliners from shoulder-fired missiles.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: armssmuggling; lakhani; missileplots; missiles; smuggling; weaponssmuggling; weaponssmuglin

1 posted on 08/12/2003 2:43:05 PM PDT by sdk7x7
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To: sdk7x7
You don't say.
2 posted on 08/12/2003 2:45:16 PM PDT by The KG9 Kid
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To: sdk7x7
yeah...and this British "citizen" was of what religious fanatical group???

hmmmmmmmm?

3 posted on 08/12/2003 2:50:32 PM PDT by evad (liberals & lying..It's WHAT they do, it's ALL they do and they WON'T stop...EVER!!)
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To: sdk7x7
It was not immediately clear whether the plot was connected to al-Qaida or some other terrorist network.

I think one can safely put "Islamic" between "other" and "terrorist" in the sentence supra.

4 posted on 08/12/2003 2:51:35 PM PDT by rickmichaels (America is the grapes, the rest of the world is the fox)
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To: sdk7x7
The man's name and the charges were not immediately available.

Let me guess its either mohammed or abdul.

5 posted on 08/12/2003 2:52:00 PM PDT by hoosierboy
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To: sdk7x7
WOW! Third one today. I'm in the wrong business.
6 posted on 08/12/2003 2:52:23 PM PDT by SGCOS
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To: sdk7x7
[It was not immediately clear whether the plot was connected to al-Qaida or some other terrorist network. ]

I'm sure it was for home defense or hunting. Let the pool sot go.

7 posted on 08/12/2003 2:59:39 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham
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To: sdk7x7
We need to protect our borders.
8 posted on 08/12/2003 3:06:47 PM PDT by Dante3
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To: The KG9 Kid
Actually, he/she/it already did say.

This story doesn't need another thread, especially another "Breaking News" thread.

9 posted on 08/12/2003 3:13:46 PM PDT by michigander
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: sdk7x7
The investigators are determining whether the airports can be defended against shoulder-fired missiles.

Only by aggressive patroling, possibly with the help of helicopters or unmanned aerial vehicles. They would of course have to have the ability and the authority to immediately take out anyone seen setting up to fire one of this MANPAD SAMS, without asking any further permission of anyone. No empty magazine wells for the ground patrolers either. In most places, patroling, and the shoot on sight authority, would by necessity have to extend a few miles from each end of the runway and to either side of the centerline some distance as well.

11 posted on 08/12/2003 3:51:16 PM PDT by El Gato
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To: sdk7x7
ping
12 posted on 08/12/2003 3:54:30 PM PDT by genefromjersey (So little time - so many FLAMES to light !!)
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To: evad
yeah...and this British "citizen" was of what religious fanatical group???

Supposedly the guy is a known arms dealer. He may not care who he sells stuff too. Sort of like the French. This guy is supposed to be Indian, which could mean Muslim, Hindu, or Sikh plus a few others with lessor probability, or he could be a godless atheist. His "customer" was however poseing as an Islamic terrorist.

13 posted on 08/12/2003 4:03:06 PM PDT by El Gato
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To: sdk7x7
Another Terrorist bites the Dust
14 posted on 08/12/2003 4:14:15 PM PDT by AmericanMade1776
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To: El Gato
He may not care who he sells stuff too. Sort of like the French.

NOD

15 posted on 08/12/2003 4:51:08 PM PDT by evad (liberals & lying..It's WHAT they do, it's ALL they do and they WON'T stop...EVER!!)
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To: SGCOS
4th of the day! They must be trying all the ports. Bad day for smugglers!
16 posted on 08/12/2003 4:52:33 PM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Law of the Excluded Middle)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: sdk7x7
The later reports indicated that three men were arrested - the Indian and two others, at least one of whom was arrested in the "diamond district" of New York. Hello!
18 posted on 08/12/2003 7:02:29 PM PDT by jackbill
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To: Hangtown
When is the media going to come clean and start identifying these people by their ethnic status instead of their citizenship

They would have to dig a little. That would be, you know, investigative reporting. More expedient to take the PC police report as is.

19 posted on 08/12/2003 7:07:09 PM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Law of the Excluded Middle)
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To: jackbill
Yup, they nabbed the 2 guys on 47th street, right in the diamond district. I'm interning at Fox News, it's half a block from here.
20 posted on 08/14/2003 9:04:29 AM PDT by sdk7x7 (AMERICA, LET'S ROLL!)
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