ELIZABETH, N.J. -- Federal authorities arrested a British man here
yesterday on charges that he was attempting to sell what he thought
was an armed SA-18 surface-to-air missile to an undercover agent
posing as a terrorist, according to published reports.
The Star-Ledger of Newark reported that the suspect, Hemad
Lakhani, was arrested at the Wyndham Newark Airport hotel here,
which is in sight of Newark Liberty International Airport, as he
was attempting to sell the missile to the agent, who was
impersonating an Al Qaeda member.
The Russian-made, shoulder fired missile -- unbeknownst to
Lakhani -- was a dummy, authorities said. The real thing is capable
of downing a commercial airliner.
Authorities said that two other suspects, who were allegedly
involved in laundering money for the missile buy, were arrested in
Manhattan, while search warrants were being executed in London, as
well.
In other developments, 10 people were reportedly arrested in
Saudi Arabia several days ago following a shootout, according to
published reports. They were said to be Al Qaeda members who were
allegedly planning an attack on a British commercial airliner.