Japan Troubled by Tie to Terror Suspect
The report was deeply troubling for Japan, where immigration agents pride themselves on keeping tight controls on foreigners. A French fugitive suspected of links to al-Qaida and with a history of violent crime slipped into the country and lived quietly as a car dealer. The media accounts of Lionel Dumont’s entry into Japan — so far only partially confirmed by authorities — have clearly rattled Japanese security officials and raised questions about their ability to block infiltration by potential terrorists and other criminals. “He appears to have entered Japan using a fake name. I regret our failure to catch him,” Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa said at a news conference Friday. Dumont was arrested in Germany in December and was extradited to France on Tuesday. His story caused particular concern because of fears that Japan could be a target for terrorist attack because of its support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Full Story