Quote:
Bush 'targeted with bomb-packed limousines'
US officials working on security for President George W Bush's second presidential inauguration fear terrorists could use limousines packed with propane gas canisters for an attack, Time magazine reported.
Fears of an attack by VBIEDs - vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices - come from a 39-page al-Qaeda document seized in Britain in 2003, according to the magazine.
The document, titled "Rough Presentation for Gas Limo Project," discusses using limousines to deliver bombs equipped with propane gas cylinders.
The document recommends hiding bombs in limos because the long classy vehicles "blend in" and "can transport larger payloads than sedans ... and do not require special driving skills," according to Time, in its editions set to hit newsstands Monday.
Hundreds of limos are expected to jam the Washington streets throughout the week carrying inauguration guests from around the country.
The limos can also "access underground parking structures that do not accommodate trucks" and "have tinted windows that can hide an improvised explosive device from outside".
Even though the Bush inauguration is not mentioned in the document, segments are being passed around among US intelligence officials, according to Time.
The al-Qaeda document calls for the use of three limos, each carrying 12 or more compressed-gas cylinders to create a "full fuel-air explosion by venting flammable gas into a confined space and then igniting it," according to Time.
The cylinders could even be painted yellow to falsely "signify toxic gases to spread terror and chaos when emergency and haz-mat teams arrive," the magazine reported.
AFP
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Well, I have three comments on this. The first one is that this is indeed a worrying development. The second is that I believe the title is a bit misleading. Surely it should say "could be targeted"; it currently implies this has already happened.
The third comment is "What the hell? Why do American agencies love stupid acronyms?!!" VBIEDs?!! Everywhere else in the world these are known as car-bombs. Just ask any Israeli, British or Spanish soldier or policeman.
Mr Mephisto