Mohamed al-Kahtani
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Mohamed Mani Ahmad al-Kahtani (sometimes transliterated Muhammed Al Kahtani or other ways) is a member of the terrorist group al-Qaida. He intended to come to the United States to take part in the September 11, 2001 attacks as a "muscle hijacker", but he was prevented due to suspicions that he was attempting to immigrate.
One of the organizers of the September 11 attacks, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, referred to al-Kahtani in intercepted telephone calls as "the last one" to "complete the group". On August 4, 2001, al-Kahtani flew into Orlando, Florida from Dubai. Mohammed Atta, the lead hijacker and pilot, drove to the Orlando International Airport to meet him, but al-Kahtani was being held by immigration officials. The officials were suspicious because al-Kahtani had little money, could speak no English, and used a one-way ticket. He frequently changed his story and could not adequately explain why he was visiting the United States. Thinking he was likely to become an illegal immigrant, al-Kahtani was sent back to Dubai. With the help of Hawsawi, he then travelled to Pakistan.
After the attacks, al-Kahtani was rounded up with many foreign fighters in Afghanistan and was sent to the United States Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After ten months, U.S. authorities discovered that he was an attempted hijacker, and he was harshly interrogated. He is still held at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo.
External links and references
- The Final 9/11 Commission Report PDF (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/index.html)
- The Final 9/11 Commission Report HTML (http://www.faqs.org/docs/911/)
- Information from the Partnership for Public Service (http://www.ourpublicservice.org/staff_name3761/staff_name_show.htm?doc_id=228748)
- "Search began with a stubborn detainee", from USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-06-22-kahtani-usat_x.htm)