Warning About Possible Missile Attacks on Aircraft

The FBI has warned law enforcement agencies in the United States that terrorists from the Al-Qaeda network may possess shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles. This warning was issued following the discovery of an empty missile tube at Prince Sultan Air Base by Saudi security forces three weeks ago. An FBI official alerted federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the U.S. about this threat. Prince Sultan Air Base is used by American aircraft stationed in Saudi Arabia. The warning states that there is no evidence indicating that terrorists intend to launch Stinger missiles or similar missiles at passenger aircraft in the U.S. The intelligence bulletin suggests that the discovery of the empty missile tube is likely related to Al-Qaeda's efforts to target U.S.-led forces in the Arabian Peninsula. FBI officials say the warning was issued to draw law enforcement's attention to the existence of such missiles and to highlight Al-Qaeda's intentions to target the U.S. aviation industry. The U.S. had provided Stinger missiles to Afghan Mujahideen fighting against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. The new interim government of Afghanistan has returned dozens of these missiles to the U.S. in recent months to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists.