Al-Qaida video shows alleged 20th hijacker
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-21 16:42
Al-Qaida has identified a would-be 20th hijacker for the Sept. 11 attacks as
a Saudi operative who was killed in a 2004 shootout with his country's security
forces.
In a statement accompanying a new video, the terrorist network's propaganda
arm identified Fawaz al-Nashimi, also known as Turki bin Fuheid al-Muteiry, as
the operative who would have rounded out a team that ultimately took over United
Airlines Flight 93, which crashed into a Pennsylvania field before reaching its
intended target.
A 54-minute video featuring al-Nashimi was obtained Tuesday by IntelCenter, a
U.S. government contractor based in Virginia. U.S counterterrorism officials
declined to comment on the authenticity of the video and its claims.
The video included a screen crediting the al-Sahab media committee with
producing the message. While no one is known to have forged the group's work,
its statements are often difficult to verify.
The video includes footage of al-Nashimi justifying attacks against the West.
It also contains 27 minutes of previously unheard audio of a siege that he took
part in on oil facilities in Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Screeching car tires and gunfire are heard as the terror cell moved from
building to building. A voice in Arabic can be heard saying: "Where are the
Americans? ... Give me the information."
The demands are punctuated with more gunfire.
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