WASHINGTON — The United States has reported an Al Qaida plot to target aircraft destined for Algeria using newly-acquired missiles from Libya.
The State Department said it has determined a plot by Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb to attack aircraft chartered by energy companies in Algeria. Officials said AQIM was believed ready to use its new stockpile of Russian-origin surface-to-air missiles to down aircraft.
“The U.S. embassy in Algiers received threat information and both the embassy and the Overseas Security Advisory Council acted quickly to alert potential targets to the threat,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.
Western and Russian companies have been working in Algeria’s huge energy sector. Over the last four years, AQIM has targeted French and Chinese energy and other personnel in the North African state.
Officials said Washington was working with Algeria and other North African states to combat the latest AQIM threat. They said U.S. Africa Command has helped train forces from such states as Mali, Mauritania, Morocco and Niger to block SAM shipments to Al Qaida.
“Information is routinely shared between the U.S. and our partners in order to disrupt terrorist plotting, identify and take action against potential operatives, and strengthen our defenses against potential threats,” Toner said on Sept. 16. “The government of Algeria has long been one of our strongest partners in this fight.”
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2011/ss_terror1174_09_19.asp
