But it is understood that, while they were known to the police and security services, they were considered peripheral figures among the many extremists whose activities cross the radar of investigators.
While the news probably did not cross the radar of most, the implications are grand: the combined $11 billion in revenue poises Actavis to become one of the two largest international pharma-tech companies, promises global dissemination of Warner Chilcott's most promising drugs, and could lead to new advances in women's health, gastroenterology, and dermatology.
As with previous attacks in Europe, Salhi had crossed the radar of the intelligence services.
Police confirmed that he had no criminal record and had never crossed the radar of German intelligence services.
Five years earlier, he had completed a course at the U.S. Army War College, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, but he seems to have hardly crossed the radar of top American officials.
Although the 31-year-old Tunisian, who held a French residency permit, was known to police through a string of minor fracas over the past six years, the minister confirmed he had not crossed the radar of the intelligence services.
The tale of Mr Abdulmutallab, who had a multiple-entry visa to America, will feed the fear that al-Qaeda is trying to use militants with easy access to the West.Another striking fact, say intelligence analysts, is the speed with which Mr Abdulmutallab evolved from hothead in London, who had "crossed the radar screen" of MI5, to active jihadist after moving to Yemen in August.
The President probably could be less sure to be able to reach the submarines and cancel their orders to attack if any Soviet missile crossed the radar trigger line in Northern Canada.
During those years, he "crossed the radar screen" of MI5, the UK's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency, for radical links and "multiple communications" with Islamic extremists; none of the information was passed to American officials, due to concerns about breaching his human rights and privacy.
The Equatoguinean league rarely crosses the radars of even the most hardened African football scouts but perhaps a few might attempt to negotiate the country's labyrinthine visa process and head to a Deportivo Mongomo game soon.
Another former Blues player Mark Cooper, son of former City boss Terry, is also expected to cross the board's radar, having steered Swindon Town to third in League One.
