From: Bill Hough -------------------- Germans fear Al Qaeda plotting airliner attack -------------------- Knight Ridder/Tribune June 13, 2002 BERLIN -- German authorities were on alert Wednesday after receiving intelligence reports that Al Qaeda agents were planning to attack passenger planes in the country, possibly using ground-to-air missiles. Also Wednesday, French authorities detained five men for questioning in the case of alleged shoe bomber Richard Reid. Reid is charged with trying to blow up a Miami-bound American Airlines plane that left Paris on Dec. 21. According to German press accounts, authorities went on alert after reports that a civilian intercepted radio messages in the Middle East two weeks ago in which people talked about attacking German airliners. German authorities did not have specific information about an attack, but the intelligence service issued a general warning to police. The German tabloid Bild reported Wednesday that a secret telex issued by the intelligence service for the state of Hesse warned that Al Qaeda could use ground-to-air missiles or model planes laden with explosives to attack commercial jets as they took off or landed. Frankfurt airport, Europe's largest, is in Hesse. German and U.S. investigators believe that much of the Sept. 11 attacks were planned by an Al Qaeda cell based in Hamburg. Three of the suicide hijackers and three other men wanted for supporting terrorism lived in the port city. And many officials suspect more Al Qaeda agents are living in Germany and other parts of Europe. French authorities were questioning five men--two Pakistanis and three French of North African heritage--who they suspect helped Reid while he was in Paris last year. Police seized three guns, one of them with a scope, and computers. Reid, 28, a British citizen, has pleaded not guilty to nine federal charges, including attempted murder and attempted destruction of an aircraft. If convicted of all charges, Reid could face five life sentences. Copyright (c) 2002, Chicago Tribune -------------------- Improved archives! Searching Chicagotribune.com archives back to 1985 is cheaper and easier than ever. New prices for multiple articles can bring your cost down to as low as 30 cents an article: http://chicagotribune.com/archives