Stinger missiles deployed to protect Washington

THE US military has deployed jeep-mounted Stinger anti-aircraft missiles around the nation’s capital in an increased alert against possible terrorist attack, defence officials said yesterday.

The nation’s threat alert was raised last week to “orange”, the second highest level, due to reported threats from multiple sources with strong ties to al-Qaida. The extremist group is blamed by Washington for the September 11, 2001, attacks on America.

The officials, who asked not to be identified, said heat-seeking Stinger missiles (weapons that can be fired from the shoulder) had been deployed in mobile Avenger systems on jeeps also carrying firing and guidance units. Each is operated by a two-member crew. The officials refused to say exactly where or how many units had been deployed this week, but some were protecting the Pentagon. The sprawling Defence Department headquarters was struck by a hijacked airliner on September 11, 2001.