Posted on 11/06/2002 9:15:06 AM PST by spald
Hong Kong plays down terror threat after al-Qaeda missile plot
| Wednesday, 06-Nov-2002 1:50AM | Story from AFP Copyright 2002 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet) |
HONG KONG, Nov 6 (AFP) - Hong Kong on Wednesday played down the threat of terrorist attacks in the territory after three men appeared in court accused of trying to buy Stinger missiles for the al-Qaeda network.
"There is no known terrorist infrastructure or support base in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the security bureau said in a statement.
"The risk of Hong Kong becoming a target of terrorist attacks is low."
However, the spokesman declined to comment on the case in which two Pakistanis and an Indian-born US citizen, aged between 44 and 47, were remanded in custody after an extradition hearing on Tuesday.
Syed Mustajab Shah, Muhammed Abid Afridi and Ilyas Ali were arrested here in a sting involving FBI agents for attempting to buy Stinger missiles for al-Qaeda in a drugs-for-arms deal.
They were arrested in a hotel room by Hong Kong police on September 20, following a tip-off from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, and are awaiting extradition to the United States.
"Based on remarks made to the FBI agents, it is believed that the defendants intended to deliver the Stinger missile systems to a designated foreign terrorist organisation, namely the al-Qaeda," said a summary of the court proceedings provided by the Justice Department.
It was the first terrorism related case in Hong Kong since the September 11 attacks on the United States, which were blamed on al-Qaeda.
The case has sparked concern among locals that Hong Kong could now be a target. Fears have already been voiced that the territory could be used as a transshipment centre for arms smuggling.
"This is the first time ever that Hong Kong was being used to carry out such a transaction, " Democrat legislator Fred Li told AFP.
"It is worrying. It is a warning to the Hong Kong security bureau which should should strengthen its intelligence exchanges with other countries," he said.
Lau Kong-wah, chairman of the security panel of the legislature, also warned of the terror threat in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
"The Hong Kong special administrative region government should be on alert to prevent any terror attacks," he added.
The security bureau, however, said existing laws were "effective in dealing" with terrorist activities and financing.
If the trio are successfully extradited to the United States, it will be Hong Kong's first terrorism-related extradition under the fugitive offenders ordinance.
In July, Hong Kong brought in anti-terrorism measures to fulfill its international obligation in combatting the financing of terrorism.
An arrest warrant was issued on September 17 for the trio by a court in California for plotting to import heroin and hashish and providing material support or resources for foreign terrorist organisations.
Washington made a formal request to Hong Kong for their extradition on October 10.
According to the court summary, the trio were engaged in discussions to sell and smuggle into the United States 600 kilograms (1,320 pounds) of heroin and five tonnes of hashish in exchange for four Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
Hong Kong on September 23 signed an agreement with the United States to cooperate on shipping security as part of a worldwide drive to guard against a possible maritime terror attack.
Under the agreement, Hong Kong and US customs signed a declaration laying down the framework under which US and Hong Kong customs officials will work together, including the posting of US customs officials here.
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