Posted on 12/21/2011 3:22:04 PM PST by NormsRevenge
The Finnish authorities have impounded an Isle of Man-flagged ship bound for China with undeclared missiles and explosives, officials say.
Police are questioning the crew of the MS Thor Liberty after what were described as 69 Patriot anti-missile missiles were found aboard.
Interior Minister Paivi Rasanen said the missiles were marked "fireworks".
The MS Thor Liberty had docked in the Finnish port of Kotka after leaving Germany last week.
Dock workers became suspicious after finding explosives poorly stored on open pallets, and the missiles were then found in containers marked "fireworks".
The managing director of the ship's owner, Thorco Shipping, expressed surprise. Thomas Mikkelsen told AFP news agency from Denmark that he was unaware of the matter.
Another company official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the ship had been detained in Finland and said the missiles could have been loaded on to the vessel by mistake, AFP adds.
Police did not confirm Finnish media reports that the ship had also been scheduled to stop in South Korea, Reuters news agency reports. 'Quite unusual'
The MS Thor Liberty left port in Emden, northern Germany, on 13 December and docked two days later in Kotka, southern Finland, to pick up a cargo of anchor chains, said Finnish Customs spokesman Petri Lounatmaa. A Patriot missile launcher deployed at Tatoi air base, near Athens, Greece (archive image) Patriot missile systems are supplied to US allies
It was bound for the Chinese port of Shanghai but there was no indication for whom the military cargo was destined.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
We made Drudge this morning.
Missiles have serial numbers!
Some guys with big guns, badges and bad attitudes ought to be ALLLLLL over this!
Thanks for that tidbit. 2004 no less.
I didn’t even notice the sites from atop the Acropolis recently. :-)
Chinese offered “top dollar” to the Paks, new Lybian “leadership” or the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt?
All Obozo’s buddies.
69 Patriots to the right terrorists could be very significant.
Anyone remember this story?
—
“China’s action troubles admiral”
The Washington Times ^ | 11-28-07 | Bill Gertz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1931824/posts
“China’s refusal to allow U.S. warships to visit Hong Kong recently was carried out to protest U.S. sales of Patriot missile equipment to Taiwan, Bush administration officials said yesterday.
Meanwhile, the senior commander in the Pacific called China’s action “troubling” and inconsistent with Beijing’s claim to being a “peaceful” power.
“This is perplexing,” said Adm. Timothy J. Keating via video from Honolulu. “It’s not helpful. It is not, in our view, conduct that is indicative of a country who understands its obligations of a responsible nation.”
The four-star admiral said he doubted that “we’ll receive an apology from the Chinese. I’m not expecting one.””
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