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Terror cell 'plotted airliner attack'
Agencies
Friday June 9, 2006
The Guardian
A terrorist cell plotted to shoot down an Israeli airliner over Switzerland but was foiled by intelligence services, Swiss prosecutors said yesterday.
Seven people of north African origin are under arrest in connection with the alleged plot, said a statement from the federal prosecutor's office. Officials declined to give further details.
Israeli media reported last month that terrorists had planned a rocket attack on a plane operated by the Israeli airline El Al last December during takeoff from Geneva. A series of arrests began last month around Zurich and Basle, and the investigation continues in Switzerland and other countries.
"Those who were arrested in Switzerland maintained contact with similar cells in France and Spain, which were likewise smashed," the statement said. One of the members of the Swiss cell was said to have been in contact with Mohamed Achraf, an alias for Abderrahmane Tahiri, who has been indicted in Spain for an alleged 2004 plot to carry out a lorry bombing against Madrid's national court. Tahiri was extradited from Switzerland in April 2005.
The Israeli authorities said last month that a plot had been uncovered by the Swiss and French intelligence agencies. An undercover agent is said to have heard three migrants of Arabic origin boast of attempts to smuggle weapons from Russia with the goal of shooting down an airliner.
After the Israelis were informed El Al changed the flight paths of its Geneva-bound planes, landing instead at Zurich.
El Al is believed to have fitted an anti-missile system called Flight Guard to some of its planes. It is reported to be capable of staving off missiles, but is said to be of limited value against rocket propelled grenades and other weapons that are not radar-guided.
