France is braced for a 9/11-style attack or a missile strike on a passenger plane, intelligence sources claimed today.
Security
forces and the army are reportedly readying for more violence on a far
larger scale after a series of terror attacks in the country.
President
François Hollande has also warned of the inevitable threat by Islamist
insurgents after a jihadi gunman was thwarted while storming a
high-speed train on Friday.
French security security services have
warned that France be targeted with a 9/11-style attack or a strike on a
passenger jet with a surface-to-air missile (like the one above) after a
series of terror attacks in the country
Agents
of the DGSI, France's equivalent of MI5, said the country could be
targeted by an attack on the scale of the Twin Towers atrocity in 2001.
A
source told the Le Canard Enchaîné newspaper that there were fears of
'an upcoming 11 September à la Française where intelligence services are
mere spectators'.
Another intelligence source warned a passenger jet could be targeted by a surface-to-air missile.
They told The Daily Telegraph:
'Airlines have been warned of a possible attack on a plane with an
anti-tank missile. But pilots are unsure how to take evasive action.'
Suspect: Ayoub El-Khazzani (above),
26, has denied accusations that he was trying to carry out a terrorist
attack on Friday. The prosecutor dismissed his robbery story as a
'complete fantasy'
Three Americans and British businessmen Chris Norman then stepped in to overpower the attacker (above)
The
army has made plans to wrest back control of districts where there are
'a lot of alienated and angry fourth-generation immigrant kids' and
weapons are easily available, the source said.
'The prospect of radicalisation is increasingly likely,' they added.
'We're
dealing with highly-organised networks of militant Islamists embarked
on a campaign of violence and determined to intensify it.'
Some
of these drug-infested suburbs are near the main Paris airport at
Roissy, raising fears a plane could be targeted as it was taking off or
landing.
It
is also believed that a number of rocket-propelled grenades and
missiles were smuggled into the country after the fall of Libyan
dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
Heroes: Four train passengers (l-r)
British businessman Chris Norman, US student Anthony Sadler, US Airman
Spencer Stone and US National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos pose with French
President Francoise Hollade after been awarded France's highest honour
for bravery for tackling a gunman on a high-speed train
France
has admitted to sending 'light weapons' to Libyan rebels in 2011 and
French media claim heavier weaponry like European-made Milan anti-tank
ballistics were also delivered.
The
warnings come after Moroccan gunman Ayoub El-Khazzani was overpowered
by three Americans and a British grandfather while trying to launch an
attack on an Amsterdam to Paris train last week.
Earlier
this week, it emerged that Khazzani had watched a video of 'Islamic
preaching' which encouraged 'violent acts' shortly before he was foiled.
Paris'
most senior prosecutor Francois Molins also dismissed Ayoub El-Khazzani
claims that he had planned to carry out a robbery after finding some
guns and ammunition as a 'complete fantasy'.
The
suspected jihadi terrorist was 'well prepared' and carrying 270 rounds
of ammunition and a bottle of petrol, the prosecutor said at a news
conference.
No comments:
Post a Comment