Iraqi dictator Hussein planned terrorist attack at Prague radio

The planned attack on RFE/RL was one of the three terrorist attacks that threatened in the Czech Republic, the server writes.

BIS says it prevented all three attacks. One of the other attack was to focus on Jewish sites in Prague.

The server writes BIS will not provide any further information on the attacks.

The failed attacks ordered by Hussein were to occur in 1999 or later when BIS monitored agents of the Iraqi secret service DGI who had diplomatic passports.

BIS revealed that DGI wanted to shoot a RPG-7 anti-tank rocket from a window of a flat some 80 metres from the radio's building in Prague centre. The terrorists also had at least six machine guns, 11 pistols and 2000 bullets, the server writes.

The weapons were smuggled to the Czech Republic in a diplomatic car.

The RFE/RL building was protected by armoured carriers at the time because of a possible attack.

Hussein wanted the RFE/RL radio to stop broadcasting to his country.

"Hussein ordered his secret service to stop the Iraqi broadcasting of Radio Free Europe by violent means. He earmarked a lot of money for this purpose," BIS spokesman Jan Subert said.

The anti-tank rocket would have definitely killed people, military police spokesman Jan Cermak told the server.

In April 2003, the Iraqis at the Prague embassy voluntarily gave up the weapons that they wanted to use.

Hussein's regime fell in 2003 as a result of the military operation Iraqi Freedom led by the United States. Hussein was later captured, sentenced to death and hanged in 2006.

In May, RFE/RL moved to a new, tight-security building in a different part of Prague.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz