Embargoed Missiles Leave Finland

Posted January 6th, 2012 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
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Finland has allowed a British ship carrying dozens of Patriot missiles to leave port, after determining no wrongdoing was involved in the shipment.

Officials say the Thor Liberty resumed its scheduled Germany to South Korea trip early Friday with 69 missiles on board.

The Thor was prevented from leaving the Finnish port of Kotka last month after the missiles were found on board without the proper transport documents. An explosive — picric acid — also was not properly packaged for the trip.

A Finnish spokesman says the vessel was cleared to depart after proper documentation was made available.

A German official was quoted as saying the shipment was a legal sale between the German military and South Korea on a government level.