Australia: Jihad plot to blow up plane with bomb hidden in Barbie doll
Lebanon’s interior minister has claimed a terror cell attempted to blow up a flight from Australia with bombs hidden in a Barbie doll and a meat grinder….Amer Khayyat planned to detonate an improvised explosive device 20 minutes into an Abu-Dhabi bound flight with 400 passengers onboard.
The Islamic State is said to have been involved in the plot, and surveillance was being run on the two brothers for a full year since one of them travelled to Syria, yet still this near catastrophe continued to unfold.
The randomness of improvised explosive devices (IED’s) makes their impact particularly dangerous. During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, statistics as of 2013 indicted that over half to two-thirds of Americans killed and wounded were victim of IED’s.
Western nations continue to be sitting ducks, as jihadists continue to hide among the general populace, having the same freedoms as law-abiding citizens. Jihadis are traveling in and out of Western countries, joining foreign jihad wars and returning back “home” with renewed vigor, hatred and drive to wage jihad.
“Components for the IED were sent through international cargo” from members of the Islamic State to Australia.
“Australian terror plan to hide plane bomb in Barbie revealed”, BBC News, August 21, 2017:
Lebanon’s interior minister has claimed a terror cell attempted to blow up a flight from Australia with bombs hidden in a Barbie doll and a meat grinder.
He said Amer Khayyat planned to detonate an improvised explosive device 20 minutes into an Abu-Dhabi bound flight with 400 passengers onboard.
The plan was allegedly only aborted after the luggage containing the devices was deemed overweight.
Four men were arrested in Sydney counter-terrorism raids in July.
Two were released but Lebanese-Australian brothers Khaled Khayat, 49, and Mahmoud Khayat, 32 were charged with “preparing for, or planning, a terrorist attack”.
Australian authorities at the time confirmed the arrests related to a credible plot to bring down an aeroplane.
It then emerged the target was an Etihad flight from Sydney on 15 July.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan described the plan as “one of the most sophisticated plots that has ever been attempted on Australian soil”.
He said components for the IED were sent through international cargo from IS members to the men in Australia.
It is claimed a fourth brother, Tarek, is a senior member of the so-called Islamic State in Raqqa.
At a news conference on Monday, the Lebanese Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk said Amer Khayyat was forced to abandon the plan and to travel to Lebanon without the luggage after the bag was deemed overweight.
His story contradicts Australian authorities who previously claimed the travelling brother had the bomb planted on him unknowingly.
The minister said his country co-ordinated extensively with the Australian government over the plot.
He also claimed the brothers had been under surveillance for over a year since their brother travelled to Syria….
Gives a whole new meaning to the expression ‘Blonde Bombshell’ don’t it?
If only it was humorous.