Author Topic: US says terrorists seeking missing Libyan missiles  (Read 1617 times)

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Offline Spiraling Leopard

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US says terrorists seeking missing Libyan missiles
« on: October 24, 2011, 06:34:48 AM »
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/14/ap/europe/main20120521.shtml

A senior U.S. official says terrorist groups have expressed interest in obtaining some of the thousands of shoulder-launched missiles that have gone missing in Libya.

Andrew J. Shapiro, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, said Friday the missiles "could pose a threat to civil aviation."

He said the issue was a priority for President Obama.

Libya was believed to have about 20,000 such missiles in its arsenals before civil war began in March, Shapiro said. Although many were destroyed by NATO air strikes, thousands are missing.

The State Department had sent 15 specialists to Libya to track down the weapons and plans to increase the number to 50 soon, Shapiro said, adding the U.S. has allocated $30 million to the effort.