Qatar says French missile found among arms seized in Italy was sold 25 years ago

Qatar said that a French missile once owned by Qatar’s military and found among a huge arsenal of weapons seized in Italy was sold by Qatar 25 years ago to a third country.

Italian police said on Monday that a French-made Matra air-to-air missile belonging to Qatar’s armed forces was discovered during raids on neo-Nazi sympathizers.

In a statement Qatar’s foreign ministry said the missile was part of a larger weapons sale made to a third “friendly” country 25 years earlier, though it did not identify the third country.

Italian police said the suspects had tried to sell the missile in conversations with contacts on the WhatsApp messaging network. Subsequent checks showed the weapon was in working condition but lacked an explosive charge.

Via Reuters/Gulf Times