US warns of new Sudan threat
Source: Agencies |
January 10, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
The United States has warned that "regional extremists" were planning an attack on Air Uganda flights between southern Sudan and Kampala.
The warning came amid heightened tensions after the botched Christmas Day bombing attempt on a Detroit-bound US airliner blamed on a Nigerian man who officials believe was trained by al Qaida in Yemen.
The US Embassy in Khartoum did not name the potential attackers but has said in the past that terrorist groups were active in Sudan.
The United States stepped up security screenings of passengers travelling from or through Sudan and 13 other countries after the failed attack.
US embassy staff published a warning late on Friday on their Website of "a potential threat against commercial aviation transiting between Juba, Sudan and Kampala, Uganda."
Juba is the capital of semi-autonomous southern Sudan.
"The US Embassy has received information indicating a desire by regional extremists to conduct a deadly attack onboard Air Uganda aircraft on this route," the embassy statement said. It added it was not clear whether the group had the ability to mount an attack but warned air passengers to be alert.
Security at Juba airport is notoriously lax. A witness said the only scanner in the airport was not working last week and security staff do not go beyond hand searches of luggage.
Uganda's army said it was aware of the threat and was taking precautions. "We're a constant target of these extremists and are always alert, so there is no cause for alarm," said Uganda's army spokesman, Major Felix Kulayigye.
Last year, the US embassy warned Islamic militants had threatened violence against Sudan's government and could target Western interests following the death of a suspected militant.
US aid official John Granville and his driver Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama were shot dead when returning from New Year celebrations in Khartoum in 2008. Four men described as Islamist extremists were sentenced to death over the attack.
Sudan, which hosted al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in the 1990s before expelling him, has been on a US list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1993. It has repeatedly denied al Qaida has an active presence in Sudan.
The warning came amid heightened tensions after the botched Christmas Day bombing attempt on a Detroit-bound US airliner blamed on a Nigerian man who officials believe was trained by al Qaida in Yemen.
The US Embassy in Khartoum did not name the potential attackers but has said in the past that terrorist groups were active in Sudan.
The United States stepped up security screenings of passengers travelling from or through Sudan and 13 other countries after the failed attack.
US embassy staff published a warning late on Friday on their Website of "a potential threat against commercial aviation transiting between Juba, Sudan and Kampala, Uganda."
Juba is the capital of semi-autonomous southern Sudan.
"The US Embassy has received information indicating a desire by regional extremists to conduct a deadly attack onboard Air Uganda aircraft on this route," the embassy statement said. It added it was not clear whether the group had the ability to mount an attack but warned air passengers to be alert.
Security at Juba airport is notoriously lax. A witness said the only scanner in the airport was not working last week and security staff do not go beyond hand searches of luggage.
Uganda's army said it was aware of the threat and was taking precautions. "We're a constant target of these extremists and are always alert, so there is no cause for alarm," said Uganda's army spokesman, Major Felix Kulayigye.
Last year, the US embassy warned Islamic militants had threatened violence against Sudan's government and could target Western interests following the death of a suspected militant.
US aid official John Granville and his driver Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama were shot dead when returning from New Year celebrations in Khartoum in 2008. Four men described as Islamist extremists were sentenced to death over the attack.
Sudan, which hosted al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in the 1990s before expelling him, has been on a US list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1993. It has repeatedly denied al Qaida has an active presence in Sudan.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
