Pictures: REUTERS
Posted on 08/12/2003 7:08:38 PM PDT by Pokey78
A BRITISH arms dealer was seized by the FBI yesterday for plotting to help terrorists shoot down a US plane with a missile.
The man was arrested in America after an amazing sting involving MI5, MI6, US and Russian authorities.
The London-based dealer said he wanted to target George Bush’s presidential plane Air Force One, it was reported. The dealer shipped the sophisticated weapon from Russia to Baltimore — and believed he was selling it to a Muslim fanatic.
But his buyer was really an undercover FBI agent — and the arms dealer is heard on tape saying the missile was to be used to shoot down a jet.
Investigative reporter Tom Mangold said the FBI agent told the dealer he wanted to attack a passenger jet.
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| Target ... plot against Bush's jet and chopper Pictures: REUTERS |
But in a grim echo of the 9/11 terror attacks, the dealer allegedly said he wanted to target Mr Bush.
The FBI denied Air Force One or the presidential helicopter were the targets. The dealer reportedly bought the shoulder-held Igla missile for £85,000 from corrupt Russian factory bosses, who promised him 50 more.
But Russian spies were on to him five months ago, and President Vladimir Putin allowed the FBI to send an undercover agent to St Petersburg.
The deadly missile arrived at Baltimore — under FBI surveillance — after being disguised as medical equipment.
Meanwhile the dealer and his wife flew to New York on Sunday on a 1.30pm BA flight from Heathrow — followed by undercover agents.
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| Raid ... FBI seize evidence in New York yesterday |
He was arrested after he met his “buyer” at a hotel in Newark, New Jersey. Two Afghan gem dealers were also held on suspicion of money laundering. A senior US law official said more arrests were expected.
Last night FBI officials conducted a raid in midtown Manhattan, New York, to seize financial records and cash in connection with the case. Scotland Yard anti-terrorist cops were last night raiding addresses in London. The arms dealer, said to be in his sixties and of Indian origin, is due in court in Newark today.
TV news channel CNN last night claimed the man had previously sold weapons to al-Qa’ida terrorists.
Groups linked to al-Qa’ida have made several recent attempts to shoot down jets — and used a surface-to-air missile in a failed attack on an Israeli jet last November.
Experts described Igla missiles as modern, easy to use and the ideal weapon for terrorists targeting aircraft.
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| Lethal weapon ... soldier armed with missile launcher |
The SA-18 weighs just 19.5kg when loaded, but can fire a 3.5kg warhead and hit a rapidly-moving target at altitudes of up to 3,000 metres. They have a range of 5km and it is believed one was used in the shooting-down of a Russian troop-carrying helicopter in Chechnya last year.
The missile in Baltimore is thought to be one of eight that went missing months ago.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office last night refused to comment on any possible links between the plot and al-Qa’ida terrorists.
He said: “We can confirm a Briton has been arrested but we cannot give any details of the operation until it is fully completed.”
Under the deal, agreed with Britain and the US, Libya will pay compensation to the families of the 270 people who died in return for a lifting of UN sanctions.
I agree
What-ever happen to the story about someone having AF1 codes or something like that, announced during this same time.
Inquiring minds want to know...
After a careful review of all the facts that I've had at my disposal, I still have no idea what exactly happened.
But I have concluded that IF TWA Flight 800 was brought down by a missile, it was not an act of terrorism -- it was shot down by a naval vessel off the south shore of Long Island that night. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11 it suddenly occurred to me that it may have been brought down deliberately after the U.S. government got wind of a 9/11-type suicide attack in process on board the plane, but after going through many fascinating threads here on FR about this subject I concluded that it was almost certainly an accident.
Posted on 01/05/2005 5:29:37 PM EST by Grendel9
ping to above
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