‘20th hijacker’ in 9/11 plot held in Guantanamo Bay

The mysterious ‘‘20th hijacker’’ believed to be missing from the group of terrorists that took control of US airplanes o...

The mysterious ‘‘20th hijacker’’ believed to be missing from the group of terrorists that took control of US airplanes on September 11, 2001 is being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, The New York Times reported today.

Saudi national Mohamed Al-Kahtani, 26, was captured in Afghanistan in December 2001. Like many detainees, he refused to give his name or collaborate with interrogators.

It was only in July 2002, officials told The New York Times, that FBI agents matched his fingerprints with those of a man turned back after flying to Orlando, Florida from London in August 2001 without no return ticket or hotel reservation.

Story continues below this ad

Records showed calls from an airport pay phone that day to Mustafa Al-Hawsawi, an Al Qaeda member in the United Arab Emirates identified as a logistical coordinator for the attacks, officials said.

And airport surveillance cameras that day showed a rental car used by the hijacker leader Mohamed Atta entering an airport parking lot just before Kahtani’s flight arrived, officials told the newspaper.

The FBI sent an experienced counter-terrorism agent fluent in Arabic to Guantanamo to interview Kahtani, and over months of conversations he eventually got him to admit that he was going to join the hijackers.

Kahtani however gave little or no information about other Al Qaeda plans — which FBI agents believed because Kahtani had been recruited to subdue passengers rather than fly a plane, and such low-level operatives normally get minimum information, officials told The New York Times. —(PTI)

us india trade talks, us india trade negotiations, us india tariffs, us india trade relations, trump modi trade talks, india us commerce ministry, us tariffs on india, india exporters relief package, us india economic relations, india us trade barriers, us india trade deal, india us trade meeting, rajesh agarwal commerce ministry, india us trade dispute, india us bilateral trade

Trade talks ‘positive’, govt says will intensify efforts to close US deal early

Business7 hr ago

India and the US have resumed trade negotiations after the US imposed tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. The sixth round of talks will focus on recognising India's red lines and possibly increasing energy purchases from the US. Other topics include easing patent rules, data flows, and giving US firms procurement access.

View all shorts

Live Blog