Posted on 12/02/2005 12:55:46 PM PST by Alex Marko
TORONTO - The army is looking into a bizarre incident in which a tractor-trailer loaded with anti-aircraft missile launchers was seen rolling down a major Ontario highway.
Several police cruisers were needed to pull over the vehicle as it travelled westbound on Highway 407 near Toronto.
The trailer was carrying two armoured personnel carriers bearing Department of National Defence licence plates and loaded with anti-aircraft missile launchers.
Police say the carriers, formerly registered to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were supposed to be delivered to Montreal on Thursday.
Police took the driver into custody at the scene, and the armoured carriers have been taken to a storage depot.
A spokeswoman for the Department of National Defence says the army is investigating.
"At this point, I don't have any confirmation on anything," said Lieut. Morgan Bailey.
Is the driver a Canadian liberal?
Coup d'etat?
"The driver, Muhammed Abu Mustafa al Hussein, was immediately released into the custody of his local imam. A spokesman for the outgoing Liberal government scoffed at speculation that the mishap might have been terror-related, pointing out that it was impossible since the driver was an adherent of 'the Religion of Peace'".
/fun and games
I suspect that, if the launchers must be mounted on armored personnel carriers, the missiles they launch are probably fairly large munitions that are stored and transported separately.
While very dangerous, they are not the terrorists' weapon of choice. Those would be manportable air defense systems (MANPADS) like Redeye (obsolete), Stinger, Blowpipe, SA-7/18, etc.
Heh, you had me going there for a second or two. LOL
*grin*
You can't get from Toronto to Montreal by going west.
Eventually you can, it if you've got the time.
Actually MANPADS have a surpisingly small chance of taking down a large airliner.
More info here:
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20051202/tank_on_407_051202/20051202?hub=TorontoHome
The truck is operated by the Camlane Group of Brampton. Company representative Jason McLean told CTV.ca that he lost contact with the driver and contacted police.
"I don't know why the driver was not going there [Montreal]," said McLean.
Using a satellite tracking system, McLean was able to give police the truck's location.
Earlier reports said police believed a billing dispute may have been to blame for the delivery not being made. McLean says no dispute exists.
The military vehicles carried Department of National Defence (DND) license plates and markings that indicate they were used by Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
Possibly this item??
http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/Images/2_0/29.jpg
Or cigarettes...
I've always wondered about that. A 747, for instance, is a damn big airplane and, even if a Stinger managed to take out one engine, so what?
I don't know that commercial airliners have self-sealing tanks and other protections against sharpy, pointy, blowie-up things. Fuel going up might be problem.
Seems like their security is pretty slack, if this can happen. Good thing the guy wasn't Muslim.
No more than units like the Queen's Dragoons, etc.
Name notwithstanding, the PPRCLI is a fine unit, which has trained with our Rangers on more than one occasion. As I recall, it was the parent outfit of the Canadian snipers who served with distinction in Afghanistan.
did they give the driver's name? age? national origin?
Loaded with bottle rockets, and center fuel tanks.
FYI
Swell, sounds like they're headed straight for Detroit. I thought with our large Arab population, that we would be safe from any terrorist threats. Maybe not.....
Profiling, sir? How dare you. The driver could have had a terrorist strapped in a front-facing child seat.
You just never know what evil lurks.....
I wonder if the one tested in LA is from this lot.
No mention of the driver's name or anything else for that matter. Maybe something in tomorrow's papers but the guy has emotional issues as reported earlier they might not to protect his (and his family's) privacy. I expect we will at least hear who the transport company was. Reports are the Canadian Forces contact the transport company when it didn't arrive by this morning and the company used their GPS tracking system to locate the rig and they called Peel Regional Police. Driver was questioned and released within a few hours and goods back on their way to their intended destination.
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