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Briton charged in missile-sale case

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A suspected arms dealer, Hemant Lakhani, was arraigned Aug. 13 on federal charges that he tried to sell shoulder-fired missiles to an undercover agent posing as a Muslim terrorist bent on shooting down an airliner.

Lakhani, 68, was arrested Aug. 12 at a hotel near Newark International Airport, where officials said he had flown from London to close the deal on a sophisticated Russian SA-18 Igla missile.

According to the FBI, the Briton also asked for a commitment from the Russian "suppliers" - actually undercover Russian agents - for 50 more missiles to be sent to the United States by Aug. 30 and also said he was interested in purchasing plastic explosives.

Authorities in the United States, Britain and Russia cooperated in the investigation, which began months ago with a tip that the dealer was seeking weapons to buy in St. Petersburg, Russia, officials said.

The Muslim extremist who then contacted Lakhani claiming he wanted the missile was actually an FBI informant and the weapon was an inoperable copy brought from Russia to the United States aboard a ship to make the deal seem real, officials said.

Officials said the understanding between Lakhani and the undercover FBI agent was that the missile needed to be capable of bringing down a commercial airliner.

Evidence against Lakhani includes hours of audio and videotapes in which he discusses the plot, speaks favorably of Osama bin Laden and refers to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as "a good thing," according to the FBI.

Shukan ST: Aug. 22, 2003

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World News Briton charged in missile-sale case NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A suspected arms dealer, Hemant Lakhani, was arraigned Aug. 13 on federal charges that he tried to sell shoulder-fired missiles to an undercover agent posing as a Muslim terrorist bent on shooting down an airliner. Lakhani, 68, was arrested Aug. 12 at a hotel near Newark International Airport, where officials said he had flown from London to close the deal on a sophisticated Russian SA-18 Igla missile. According to the FBI, the Briton also asked for a commitment from the Russian "suppliers" - actually undercover Russian agents - for 50 more missiles to be sent to the United States by Aug. 30 and also said he was interested in purchasing plastic explosives. Authorities in the United States, Britain and Russia cooperated in the investigation, which began months ago with a tip that the dealer was seeking weapons to buy in St. Petersburg, Russia, officials said. The Muslim extremist who then contacted Lakhani claiming he wanted the missile was actually an FBI informant and the weapon was an inoperable copy brought from Russia to the United States aboard a ship to make the deal seem real, officials said. Officials said the understanding between Lakhani and the undercover FBI agent was that the missile needed to be capable of bringing down a commercial airliner. Evidence against Lakhani includes hours of audio and videotapes in which he discusses the plot, speaks favorably of Osama bin Laden and refers to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as "a good thing," according to the FBI. Shukan ST: Aug. 22, 2003 (C) All rights reserved