"The weapon is so simple to operate that experts were puzzled how the terrorists managed to miss their target yesterday. ...
Earlier this year, evidence emerged that al-Qaida militants had access to heat-seeking SAM-7s. ...
The discovery prompted the FBI to issue an intelligence warning that terrorists could use shoulder-fired missiles to shoot down US commercial aircraft. ...
These include the US-made Stinger system, which was used to devastating effect by Afghan mohajedin fighters against Soviet occupying forces."
Actually, they sort of do call the Al Qaeda terrorists, although they are termed "militants" as well. Of course, they were "mohajedin" "freedom fighters" during the Regan administration when we were supplying them with the anti-aircraft missiles.
It's not yet totally clear in this case that the terrorists are in fact Al Qaeda. Given the target, they could also be Palestinians. BTW, the article does call the perps terrorists.