German Spies Warn Islamic State Has Anti-Aircraft Rockets, Report Says
Oct. 26, 2014 - 12:14PM | By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141026/DEFREG04/310260012/German-Spies-Warn-Islamic-State-Has-Anti-Aircraft-Rockets-Report-Says

BERLIN — Germany’s intelligence service believes Islamic State jihadist
fighters in northern Iraq possess anti-aircraft weapons that could take down
passenger jets, according to a newspaper report Sunday.

The BND federal intelligence service had told German lawmakers about its
suspicion in a confidential briefing late last week, reported the Bild am
Sonntag newspaper without citing named sources.

In the briefing, the BND reportedly warned that IS fighters possess portable
rocket launchers captured from Syrian army stocks. Some dated from the
1970s, while others were modern and advanced.

The shoulder-mounted rocket launchers — known as Man Portable Air Defense
Systems or MANPADS — were of Russian design but may have been manufactured
in other countries including Bulgaria or China, the report said.