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You are > Home > Knock Airport was on Al Qaeda hit-list
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Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Knock Airport was on Al Qaeda hit-list
By: Marian Harrison
Gardaí in Mayo are liasing with police in Northern Ireland after it emerged that Knock Airport had been identified as a potential target for an Al Qaeda suicide bomber.
Claims that the West’s airport was a target for Osama bin Laden disciple, Abbas Boutrab, who spent his time fixated on fine-tuning how to blow up passenger jets, is of “considerable concern” to Gardaí, the Western People has learned.
Reports suggest that Algerian-born Boutrab, who is believed to have used up to ten false identities before he was apprehended by police in the North, carried out several dummy runs at Knock and Dublin airports.
27-year-old Boutrab, who was found guilty last month of collecting and possessing information connected with terrorism, which he had downloaded from the Internet, is the first Al Qaeda suspect to be convicted in Ireland.
A Garda spokesperson told the Western People that the Gardaí had no definite information regarding Boutrab’s plans for Mayo’s airport but they were treating the situation with “considerable concern”.
“We’re liaising with the Police Service in Northern Ireland in relation to the matter.”
Detailed documents found in Boutrab’s flat could have been used to construct a bomb capable of downing an aircraft, Belfast Crown Court heard during the seven-week trial.
The instructions claimed the incendiary device would be planted in baby talcum powder canisters and easily smuggled onto an aeroplane for assembly in the toilet by a suicide bomber.
The instructions also advised the bomber to work alone and urged the volunteer to “blow the aircraft up with yourself and may God accept you”.
The FBI built the bomb Boutrab had designed by using the blue prints found in his Antrim flat. The device was then detonated in an old plane to show its deadly effectiveness.
Knock Airport bosses have dismissed the reports saying they are not aware of any evidence to support the claims.
“We’re also not aware of any high risk alerts,” Head of Operations, Robert Grealis told the Western People.
Mr Grealis said the safety of passenger was a priority and insisted that Knock’s security was of the highest standards.
“Our security system complies with the standards set for all international airports. It’s constantly revised and updated and is open to the scrutiny of the Department of Transport.”
Boutrab, who was described as a “very dangerous man” and a “determined terrorist” by the PSNI, will be sentenced on December 19.
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