In a Czech television report on Sunday, the Czech intelligence service (BIS) revealed that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had ordered his agents to attack RFE/RL's Prague headquarters in 2000. The agents planned to use rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons to attack RFE/RL's former headquarters from a nearby office adjacent to Prague's historic Wenceslas Square.
The weapons to be used in the attack were allegedly smuggled into the country in Iraqi diplomatic cars and hidden in the Iraqi embassy. It is not known when the attack was meant to take place, but the stockpile of weapons was found in the embassy after the fall of Saddam's regime in 2003.
The story about the plot has been reported by several major news outlets, including Reuters, UPI, and the Associated Press, as well as in ABC News and the Huffington Post.
Reuters
"Saddam ordered Radio Free Europe attack in Prague"
UPI
"Czechs: Saddam planned Prague attack"
Associated Press
"Czech: Iraq planned attack on Radio Free Europe"
Dar al-Hayat (Arabic)
"Saddam Hussein issued order to attack Radio Free Europe"
České Noviny
"Iraqi dictator Hussein planned terrorist attack at Prague radio"
Prague Daily Monitor
"MPs: Information about attack plot in Prague should have stayed secret"
The weapons to be used in the attack were allegedly smuggled into the country in Iraqi diplomatic cars and hidden in the Iraqi embassy. It is not known when the attack was meant to take place, but the stockpile of weapons was found in the embassy after the fall of Saddam's regime in 2003.
The story about the plot has been reported by several major news outlets, including Reuters, UPI, and the Associated Press, as well as in ABC News and the Huffington Post.
Reuters
"Saddam ordered Radio Free Europe attack in Prague"
UPI
"Czechs: Saddam planned Prague attack"
Associated Press
"Czech: Iraq planned attack on Radio Free Europe"
Dar al-Hayat (Arabic)
"Saddam Hussein issued order to attack Radio Free Europe"
Czech Press
Český Rozhlas (including English audio)
"Counter-intelligence service confirms it averted Iraq planned attack in 2003"
České Noviny
"Iraqi dictator Hussein planned terrorist attack at Prague radio"
Prague Daily Monitor
"MPs: Information about attack plot in Prague should have stayed secret"