Plot to smuggle deadly missile into US foiled

Published August 13th, 2003 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Three people, including one British citizen, are due in court in connection with an alleged plot to smuggle a deadly surface-to-air missile into the United States. 

 

All three appear to be linked to an apparent attempt to sell an Igla missile to an FBI agent posing as a "Muslim extremist", according to a BBC report.  

 

The three are expected in court in New Jersey on Wednesday morning. It is believed the alleged threat might have been against a commercial airplane.  

 

US Officials have played down suggestions that the target could have been the US President's personal aircraft, Air Force One. 

 

The BBC had disclosed the Briton was arrested at a hotel in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday, after collecting a crate containing the missile. Two more people were later arrested in New York.  

 

The British man, thought to be an established arms dealer, is believed to be a married man of Indian origin, who resides in London.  

 

Secret services from the US, Russia and Britain cooperated in the operation, which began five months ago in St Petersburg.  

 

The Igla missile, which has a 4 kilometer range and an infra-red capability, was blamed for the shooting down of a Russian helicopter in Chechnya last year.  

 

The Igla provided by the Russian security services in this case had been modified so it could not be fired. (Albawaba.com) 

 

© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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