On 21 April 1989, a South African diplomat, believed to be a national intelligence agent, an American and two Ulster loyalists were apprehended by police in Paris while conducting an arms deal involving stolen British "Blowpipe" *1 missiles.

The South African left France after claiming diplomatic immunity.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.

*1 The Blowpipe Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) missile was then a product of Shorts Brothers of Belfast, Ireland. Shorts Brothers have now been acquired by Thales (yes - them of Durban fame) and are called Thales Air Defence (TAD), a subsidiary of Thales UK Ltd.

Watch the spaces for more on TAD VSHORADs and SHORADs as these have been selected by the SA Army for its new Ground-Based Air Defence System (GBADS) by a most interesting selection process.