Plot to blow up Eiffel Tower foiled, say French police

[webfact]

Plot to blow up Eiffel Tower foiled, say French police
Henry Samuel

PARIS: -- France foiled an Islamist terrorist plot to target the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and even a nuclear power plant, it emerged as the country unveiled new, tougher anti-terror rules.

French police stumbled on the plans after decrypting coded messages between a 29-year-old Algerian butcher living in the Vaucluse area of southern France, known only as Ali M, and one of the highest-ranking members in al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

According to Le Parisien newspaper, in April last year, the married father of two, who went by the pseudonym Abu Jaji was asked by his AQIM contact, whose web alias was Redouane18, to make "suggestions concerning how to conduct jihad in the place you are currently".

Ali M suggested targeting nuclear power plants, "planes at the moment of take-off", and a string of French landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum in Paris.

In an apparent reference to the famed Avignon theatre festival, he also singled out "cultural events that take place in the south of France in which thousands of Christians gather for a month".

Full story: http://www.theage.com.au/world/plot-to-blow-up-eiffel-tower-foiled-say-french-police-20140711-zt3ri.html


-- The Age 2014-07-11

[londonthai]

this story is not credible for me. Just an internet chat. It's punishable, but no the question is "how to do it"

[capcc76]

Bomb hidden under illegal burqa?

[webfact]

Eiffel Tower and Louvre terror plot foiled

PARIS: -- The French intelligence services say they have uncovered a plot by jihadists to blow up the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and even a nuclear plant in France last summer.

Details of the plan were hidden in encrypted messages between an Algerian butcher living in south-east France and a high ranking officer from Al Qaeda.

This comes before the French government set out the parameters of new surveillance legislation giving them powers to monitor jihadist websites.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28241855


-- BBC 2014-07-11

[Rimmer]

A couple of posts have been removed.

[Mosha]

The Eiffel Tower was due for demolition in August 1944, but the General disobeyed orders.

[Deacon Bell]

Sounds like a couple of idiots pissing about on the net. Nothing else to it.

Unless the contact was CIA etc. looking to catch a fish and highlight the need for more money to fight the war on terror.

was asked by his AQIM contact, whose web alias was Redouane18, to make "suggestions concerning how to conduct jihad in the place you are currently".

[belg]

ah, the religion of peace...

infiltration started 30-40 years ago

the true face is about to be seen

[bkkjames]

Why announce it at all?

[Deacon Bell]

Why announce it at all?

Promote fear and hatred.

[Deacon Bell]

I wonder how many hicks and rednecks have talked about blowing up places in Islamic nations (after getting out an atlas) online over the past 13 years.

[Morch]

I wonder how many hicks and rednecks have talked about blowing up places in Islamic nations (after getting out an atlas) online over the past 13 years.

While in these Islamic nations?

[shirtless]

France has now become the hub of Islamic plots, French secret service need a bigger budget.

[Regyai]

Ali M

or

Ali G ?

[Deacon Bell]

I wonder how many hicks and rednecks have talked about blowing up places in Islamic nations (after getting out an atlas) online over the past 13 years.

While in these Islamic nations?

While in these Islamic nations what?

[catweazle]

The plots to establish an enemy stereotype are getting cheaper and cheaper by the day... Back in 2001 they had some serious fireworks going on to drum the whole world into hailing the invasion of a clueless middle east country, by now they are down to "a friend told me that a friend told him..."

Bbbboring!

[sustento]

Why announce it at all?

Because they're just about to introduce stricter laws and they need the public to be sufficiently fearful to accept them without question. An old trick pulled by all governments.

[Basil B]

As I recall the Eiffel Tower is quote substantial, it would probable need at least a few tons of well placed shaped charges to bring it down, obviously some kids on the internet just caught the French with their knickers in twist.

I think even CDI would run a mile if asked to bring it down.

Edited July 11, 2014 by Basil B

[Basil B]

Deleted post edited out

BBC please bring back René Artois,

Edited July 11, 2014 by Scott
Deleted post edited out

[kartman]

I would love somebody to blow up the Eiffel Tower [without fatalities of course]. I was a member of Greenpeace at the time the French sank The Rainbow Warrior and although they murdered some Greenpeace members I would not like to see any more deaths.

But oh what fun - the Eiffel Tower lying flat on the ground.

Will still get the Tourists just call it the Sleeping Eiffel

[Stan7444]

Why announce it at all?

Promote fear and hatred.

Probably an attempt to help justify the NSA type of spying.

[Morch]

I wonder how many hicks and rednecks have talked about blowing up places in Islamic nations (after getting out an atlas) online over the past 13 years.

While in these Islamic nations?

While in these Islamic nations what?

Were those "hicks and rednecks" talking about blowing up places in Islamic nations while living in those Islamic nations?

[akentryan]

Avoid the Tower on Bastille Day just in case.

[Scott]

A number of off-topic, inflammatory and troll posts have been removed. The topic is about the Eiffel Tower. It's in France.

[tw25rw]

I can imagine they would target the tower, but not bring it down. Would be easy to kill a load of tourists there.

[capcc76]

I wonder how many hicks and rednecks have talked about blowing up places in Islamic nations (after getting out an atlas) online over the past 13 years.

While in these Islamic nations?

While in these Islamic nations what?

Were those "hicks and rednecks" talking about blowing up places in Islamic nations while living in those Islamic nations?

Dude is obviously dealing with personal issues being projected here. Haha, hicks and rednecks might shoot you if you break into their house, but they are not out their bombing train stations, high jacking airliners and blowing up markets trying to kill as many women and children as possible.

How many suicide redneck bombers do we hear about? Good ole boys got better sense than that and good ole boys are more interested in beer and shooting a deer than harming other people.

Unfortunate, some in this world have no other goal in life than to cause terror and harm others. These aren't the red neck and hicks. Most of these seem to be Muslim.

[capcc76]

Why announce it at all?

Because they're just about to introduce stricter laws and they need the public to be sufficiently fearful to accept them without question. An old trick pulled by all governments.

Whateva. From someone who consistently defends the indefensible.

Fact, there are people in this world that have but one goal in their pathetic little lives, to create terror and harm others.

Fact, the savages like targets that have shock value and meaning to their resented cultures - landmarks, government buildings and aircraft. Targets that have emotional ties and create national pride in the cultures they resent are tops on their lists.

Fact, intelligence has thwarted many terrorists acts and saved many lives.

Fact, none of you condemning the government for trying to protect civilians have any clue regarding the credibility of this threat, only speculation driven by your personal agendas. Targets such as this, however, have always been priority targets of looney terrorist tossers.

Lastly, we don't need articles like this to create negative perceptions on certain segments of society. These savages do a nice job of creating those perceptions all on their own on daily basis throughout the world.

[capcc76]

As I recall the Eiffel Tower is quote substantial, it would probable need at least a few tons of well placed shaped charges to bring it down, obviously some kids on the internet just caught the French with their knickers in twist.

I think even CDI would run a mile if asked to bring it down.

*Deleted post edited out*

I think the tower would be much easier to bring down. Take out one or two legs and weight may do work for you. I have heard that the parking garage bomb in WTC could have potential worked given precise placement.

Edited July 11, 2014 by Scott
Deleted post edit out

[Scott]

Off-topic post deleted.

[JesseFrank]

So if I suggest that monument xxxx could be seen as a target, then there is a plot, or how to make from a finger an arm.

More scare mongering to justify the big brother policies.

Edited July 11, 2014 by JesseFrank