Here we go....US Missile Fired by accident (!) in Qatar

US missile fired 'by accident' in Qatar
AFP
Published: Tuesday October 16, 2007






A Patriot missile was launched accidentally from a US military base in the Gulf state of Qatar, crashing into a farm but causing no casualties.

"A Patriot missile landed on a farm belonging to a Qatari national after being fired by accident from the As-Sailiyah camp," Al-Jazeera television reported on Tuesday.

According to unconfirmed reports, the missile exploded in mid-air, scattering debris over the farm, which is situated in the desert north of As-Sailiyah.

"We're investigating the incident, which happened last night," said a spokswoman at the US base, Holley Silkman, who refused to make any further comment on what had occurred.

A Qatari military police vehicle was stationed at the entrance to the farm and reporters were refused access to the site, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) southwest of Doha.

Qatar, a member of the pro-Western Gulf Cooperation Council, hosts the US army's Central Command which directed the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

The Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system used by the US military and several of its allies, including Israel.

The US military has two bases in Qatar, As-Sailiyah and Al-Udeid, which is located in the desert further south of the capital.