TERRORIST LASER ATTACKS

Hosenball, Mark (2005) "Dangerous Descents" NEWSWEEK, p.6
________, (2005) "N.J. man charged with aiming laser at plane" USA TODAY, 1/4
Parry, Wayne, (2005) "Man charged for under patriot act for laser" YAHOO NEWS, 1/5.

Airplane pilots have reported that they are targeted by lasers that blind them. No one has downed a plane, but the first alleged culprit has been found. He is a resident of a suburb near Newark, New Jersey.

The unusual aspect of the case is HOW EASY it is to do. The plane was 3,000 above the home of the alleged. A green colored strobe light hit their plane three times and temporarily blinded the pilot and co-pilot. The device was purchased for about
$100 (one hundred dollars) and was easily garnered from the internet. . Other cases have been reported in Colorado Springs, Cleveland, Washington, Houston and Medford.

If there is an accident, passengers on the plane can be hurt or killed as well as numerous people in homes below the plane's trajectory. In other words, it has the potential to be a sizable mass killer.

To further complicate the matter, the laser is small. Thus a terrorist or related can find a spot to hide in a wooded area or busy area that is temporarily without others, shine the laser and hurry from the scene. Fortunately, the individual was in his own backyard. Additionally, he does not appear at this time to be in an organized terrorist organization.