| "Some terrorism experts, however, said the value of the sting was only symbolic. Lakhani is not a known terrorist or big player in arms deals, and no terrorist group was involved, they said. "This was not stopping a terrorist event," the former director of the CIA's counter-terrorism centre, Vincent Cannistraro, said. "This guy wouldn't have done it if the Russians hadn't set him up." |
Briton wanted to smuggle 50 missiles FBI - smh.com.au
Briton wanted to smuggle 50 missiles: FBI
A suspected arms dealer was arranging to smuggle 50 more shoulder-fired missiles into the United States soon after securing one of the weapons, according to an FBI affidavit. He had believed the Russian-made weapon was intended to shoot down an airliner. The document also says that Hemant Lakhani, dealing with an undercover FBI agent he believed to be a Muslim terrorist, was recorded as saying Osama bin Laden "did a good thing" and "straightened them all out". Lakhani, 68, a Briton described as a "significant international arms dealer", is charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to terrorists and acting as an arms broker without a licence. "The terrorists who have threatened America lost an ally in their attempts to kill our citizens," the federal prosecutor for New Jersey, Christopher Christie, said after Lakhani's arraignment on Tuesday. Lakhani, now detained, appeared with Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, a Malaysian, who was charged with helping to finance the deal. A third man, Yehuda Abraham, 75, was charged separately in the US federal court in New York and taken into custody. Lakhani and two other men were arrested on Tuesday after an 18-month investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark and Russian and British authorities, Mr Christie said. The most serious charge Lakhani faces carries a 15-year maximum prison sentence. Those against the other men carry five-year maximum sentences. At his ranch in Crawford, Texas, the US President, George Bush, said Lakhani's arrest undercuts criticism that his Administration was not doing enough to fight terrorism. "The fact that we're able to sting this guy is a pretty good example of what we're doing in order to protect the American people," Mr Bush said. Justice Department officials applauded the sting, but some said they were frustrated that news of Lakhani's arrest leaked before investigators could determine whether he might lead them to other operatives. Lakhani was arrested at a hotel near Newark International Airport, a day after a sealed arrest warrant was issued for him and the other men. He had agreed to deliver a missile to US agents posing as buyers after he obtained it from Russian agents posing as sellers, Mr Christie said. Lakhani's lawyer, Donald McCauley, refused to comment. Mr Christie said Hameed had been summoned by Lakhani from Malaysia to launder a $US500,000 ($759,959) downpayment on an additional 50 missiles that undercover agents sought from Lakhani, after one missile was shipped at a cost of $US86,000. Some terrorism experts, however, said the value of the sting was only symbolic. Lakhani is not a known terrorist or big player in arms deals, and no terrorist group was involved, they said. "This was not stopping a terrorist event," the former director of the CIA's counter-terrorism centre, Vincent Cannistraro, said. "This guy wouldn't have done it if the Russians hadn't set him up." Associated Press, AFP, Newsday |
