Rocket Launcher Found Near Lower Manhattan

ו' באב תשס"ז

This is not good news (but it's discovery Friday morning is) - a military rocket launcher capable of shooting down airplanes has been discovered in a downtown neighborhood in Jersey City, New Jersey - across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan. I wonder what men had planned to with that?!

Jersey City Woman Finds Missile Launcher
Jul 21, 2007 5:52 am US/Eastern

(CBS) JERSEY CITY A Jersey City woman made what to her and her neighbors was a shocking discovery Friday morning when she noticed a military rocket launcher lying in the grass.

Niranjana Besai was leaving her house, located at 88 Nelson Street, to go to work just after 8 a.m. when she spotted the launcher on her front lawn.

Sources tell CBS 2 HD that the device is an AT-4 missile launcher that is used to fire against tanks and buildings. The device was first approved by the U.S. Army in 1985 and its very powerful warheads can penetrate through more than a foot of armor.

Officials initially expressed concern after discovering that Besai's house is located along a flight path for Newark Liberty International Airport. They later learned that used, inoperable AT-4 tubes are sold to the public through military surplus Web sites and other outlets.

Hat-tip to Mystical Paths.