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Journalism of Courage
A British man held in the US on charges of trying to sell missiles to shoot down planes will face additional charges of plotting to procure a ‘‘dirty bomb.’’
Hemant Lakhani, an Indian-born 68-year-old London arms dealer, arrested in August in a FBI sting operation, ‘‘was indicted today with new allegations that he also offered to procure anti-aircraft guns, tanks, armoured personnel carriers, radar systems and a ‘dirty bomb’,’’ US Attorney Christopher Christie of Newark, said in a statement.
Prosecutors charged Lakhani with one count of ‘‘attempting to provide material support to terrorists’’ that carries a maximum of 15 years in prison if he is convicted and a $2,50,000 fine. The indictment contains several other charges that carry possible prison terms of between two and 20 years.
Lakhani, who has been held in jail since his August 12 arrest at a hotel near Newark International Airport, will appear in court in the coming days, the prosecutor said.
Lakhani was charged with trying to sell a shoulder-fired missile imported from Russia to an FBI informant.
‘‘Lakhani is alleged to have advised his intended purchaser — with whom he was also arranging sale of another 50 missiles — that the missile could be used effectively to terrorising America if 10 to 15 commercial aircraft were shot down simultaneously across the country,’’ Thursday’s statement said.(Reuters)
