Posted on 02/14/2003 6:01:26 PM PST by Dubya
Anti-terror unit probed alleged inquiry about 'crop-duster' near Boston
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: February 14, 2003 8:43 p.m. Eastern
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com Amid the nation's heightened terror-alert status, an alleged attempt by two "Middle Eastern-looking" to purchase a crop-duster has resulted in the detention of two Brazilians by Immigration and Naturalization Service agents.
The Salem News reported yesterday that men with "thick accents" asked for a crop-duster last Tuesday at a flight school at the Beverly, Mass., airport, about 18 miles north of Boston. After a report to local police by the flight school's owner, Massachusetts state police and the FBI were brought into the investigation, prompted by suspicion of a connection to terrorism.
Shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the FAA grounded thousands of crop-dusters across the country for fear they could be used in a biological or chemical attack. Hijacker Mohammad Atta reportedly made numerous trips to rural airports to learn about crop-dusters, and a crop-duster manual was found in the possession of "20th hijacker" Zacarias Moussouai.
The two unidentified Brazilian nationals were taken into custody about 7 p.m. yesterday, the Boston Herald reported.
Massachusetts state police Sgt. David Paine confirmed that the men are being held in connection with an unsolicited offer last week to buy a vintage banner-hauling Piper Pawnee plane.
"At this time, it is not believed there is any link to terrorism involved," he said.
The Herald said state police are investigating the matter along with the INS, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and police from the Boston-area cities of Beverly, Hudson and Marlboro.
Authorities insisted that the airplane is not a "crop-duster" that could be used for chemical warfare, the Herald said.
The plane's owner, Steve LeBel said the 42-year-old Piper is used to tow advertisements
"Saying this could be a crop-duster is like saying a pickup truck could be a rocket launcher,'' he told the Herald.
The owner of the Beverly airport's General Aviation Services, Victor Capozzi, said he called local police Wednesday to tell them that on Feb. 6 he had been called upon by two seemingly Middle Eastern men with "thick accents,'' who were asking about airplanes and flying lessons, the Herald reported.
Capozzi said a man whose face was badly pock-marked "did all the talking,'' while a second man with "big, spooky eyes'' never opened his mouth.
He said he didn't notify authorities at the time because, "I wasn't thinking terrorists. That's just not right. There's a lot of good people out there.''
That assumes it had a cog to slip in the first place. ;)
Mind if I copy that from time to time?
It would only take a few trips to Home Depot to make the aircraft a spray plane again.
What thread are you commenting on? There is absolutely nothing about gov't lies in this thread. What are you trying to stir up??
Typical sloppy WND sensationalism. The reason WND reporters were kicked out of the Bush press room.
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