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Al-Qaida members tried to sneak into Japan: Report
Tokyo, June 19: Six members of the al-Qaida terror network hiding out in Pakistan tried to sneak into Japan with fake passports last year, a newspaper reported today.
Tokyo, June 19: Six members of the al-Qaida terror network hiding out in Pakistan tried to sneak into Japan with fake passports last year, a newspaper reported today.
Their plan fell through when a Japanese Muslim refused a bribe to act as a guarantor for the six terrorists, the 'Yomiuri' newspaper said.
The newspaper quoted unidentified government officials as saying the terrorists were fleeing a crackdown by authorities against Osama bin Laden's network in Pakistan and believed it would be easier to slip into Japan than Europe or the United States.
Officials from the national police agency and the public safety investigation agency refused to comment on the story.
An al-Qaida official claiming to be a go-between for six members of the group hiding in Pakistan approached a Japanese Muslim here last spring, the 'Yomiuri' said.
The go-between reportedly said fake Indian and Bangladesh passports had been prepared for the six and offered to pay the Japanese national about USD 8,500 per person to become their guarantor.
Though Japanese authorities were tipped off about the plan, they do not know the names of the six or their positions in al-Qaida, the 'Yomiuri' said.
Earlier this week, domestic media said Japanese and US security officials suspected a high-ranking al-Qaida member came to Japan in 2000 to raise funds and stayed until just before the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.
Another report said an al-Qaida terrorist bought radio equipment in Japan in 1995.
Bureau Report
The newspaper quoted unidentified government officials as saying the terrorists were fleeing a crackdown by authorities against Osama bin Laden's network in Pakistan and believed it would be easier to slip into Japan than Europe or the United States.
Officials from the national police agency and the public safety investigation agency refused to comment on the story.
An al-Qaida official claiming to be a go-between for six members of the group hiding in Pakistan approached a Japanese Muslim here last spring, the 'Yomiuri' said.
The go-between reportedly said fake Indian and Bangladesh passports had been prepared for the six and offered to pay the Japanese national about USD 8,500 per person to become their guarantor.
Though Japanese authorities were tipped off about the plan, they do not know the names of the six or their positions in al-Qaida, the 'Yomiuri' said.
Earlier this week, domestic media said Japanese and US security officials suspected a high-ranking al-Qaida member came to Japan in 2000 to raise funds and stayed until just before the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.
Another report said an al-Qaida terrorist bought radio equipment in Japan in 1995.
Bureau Report