9/11 terror link found at Net site in Springs
FBI checked e-mail of jailed Moussaoui
Karen Abbott
Rocky Mountain News
Eight days after terrorists hijacked four airplanes and flew them into U.S. buildings, an FBI agent asked a federal judge in Colorado for permission to search an e-mail account named greenlab@usa.net.
The account belonged to Zacarias Moussaoui, who is accused of being the 20th hijacker. He was unable to join the others on Sept. 11, 2001, however, because he was in jail in Minnesota.
Nineteen hijackers died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and an unknown location, which was spared when the fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.
The Internet service provider hosting Moussaoui's e-mail account was Colorado Springs-based USA.Net Inc. Colorado U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Watanabe issued the search warrant at the request of FBI Special Agent Steve Fedastion on Sept. 19, 2001. The warrant and other documents in the case remained sealed until last month.
Whatever authorities found in greenlab@usa.net has not been made public in Colorado U.S. District Court, but they were searching for a list of possibilities, from general travel and financial information to any mention of Osama bin Laden or the word jihad, or holy war.
Moussaoui was behind bars because Timothy Nelson, a flight instructor in Eagan, Minn., had tipped the FBI on Aug. 15, 2001, to a student who seemed "suspicious."
Moussaoui had paid between $8,000 and $9,000 in cash to train on a Boeing 747 Model 400 aircraft simulator and started his training about Aug. 13.
"What set Moussaoui apart from all other students in Nelson's experience was that he had no aviation background, and to Nelson's knowledge, no pilot's license," court documents said. "Nelson also considered it odd that Moussaoui indicated that all he wished to learn was how to take off and land the 747 Model 400, giving the reason that this was an 'ego-boosting thing.'"
Federal authorities discovered that Moussaoui was a French citizen who had entered the United States from the United Kingdom, where he was living, on Feb. 23, 2001. He had a visa waiver allowing him stay 90 days, but he had overstayed that limit when he turned up in Minnesota.
Federal authorities arrested him on Aug. 16, 2001, and jailed him in Elk River, Minn. He was still there when terrorists attacked on 9/11.
Federal authorities obtained a warrant that day to search Moussaoui's laptop computer and other belongings. Moussaoui was moved out of the county jail three days after the attacks.
The next day, a man who had been jailed with him told authorities that he had asked Moussaoui if he knew bin Laden. "Moussaoui put his finger over his lips and pointed at the jail surveillance camera," court documents said.
Another man said he heard Moussaoui
declare just after the terrorist attacks: "It's not over yet. All the presidents are going to get it. Clinton and Bush will die. Our goal was 20,000 lives, and I wish it was more."
Moussaoui is awaiting trial in Virginia on charges in connection with the 9/11 attacks. Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
The trial has been delayed by prosecutors' objections on national
security grounds to Moussaoui's wish to call witnesses who are members of al-Qaida. Moussaoui's request is on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
A written brief asking the high court to consider the question was made public Thursday. It was filed Jan. 10 but withheld for the removal of classified information.
abbottk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5188
Rocky Mountain News
Eight days after terrorists hijacked four airplanes and flew them into U.S. buildings, an FBI agent asked a federal judge in Colorado for permission to search an e-mail account named greenlab@usa.net.
The account belonged to Zacarias Moussaoui, who is accused of being the 20th hijacker. He was unable to join the others on Sept. 11, 2001, however, because he was in jail in Minnesota.
Nineteen hijackers died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and an unknown location, which was spared when the fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.
The Internet service provider hosting Moussaoui's e-mail account was Colorado Springs-based USA.Net Inc. Colorado U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Watanabe issued the search warrant at the request of FBI Special Agent Steve Fedastion on Sept. 19, 2001. The warrant and other documents in the case remained sealed until last month.
Whatever authorities found in greenlab@usa.net has not been made public in Colorado U.S. District Court, but they were searching for a list of possibilities, from general travel and financial information to any mention of Osama bin Laden or the word jihad, or holy war.
Moussaoui was behind bars because Timothy Nelson, a flight instructor in Eagan, Minn., had tipped the FBI on Aug. 15, 2001, to a student who seemed "suspicious."
Moussaoui had paid between $8,000 and $9,000 in cash to train on a Boeing 747 Model 400 aircraft simulator and started his training about Aug. 13.
"What set Moussaoui apart from all other students in Nelson's experience was that he had no aviation background, and to Nelson's knowledge, no pilot's license," court documents said. "Nelson also considered it odd that Moussaoui indicated that all he wished to learn was how to take off and land the 747 Model 400, giving the reason that this was an 'ego-boosting thing.'"
Federal authorities discovered that Moussaoui was a French citizen who had entered the United States from the United Kingdom, where he was living, on Feb. 23, 2001. He had a visa waiver allowing him stay 90 days, but he had overstayed that limit when he turned up in Minnesota.
Federal authorities arrested him on Aug. 16, 2001, and jailed him in Elk River, Minn. He was still there when terrorists attacked on 9/11.
Federal authorities obtained a warrant that day to search Moussaoui's laptop computer and other belongings. Moussaoui was moved out of the county jail three days after the attacks.
The next day, a man who had been jailed with him told authorities that he had asked Moussaoui if he knew bin Laden. "Moussaoui put his finger over his lips and pointed at the jail surveillance camera," court documents said.
Another man said he heard Moussaoui
declare just after the terrorist attacks: "It's not over yet. All the presidents are going to get it. Clinton and Bush will die. Our goal was 20,000 lives, and I wish it was more."
Moussaoui is awaiting trial in Virginia on charges in connection with the 9/11 attacks. Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
The trial has been delayed by prosecutors' objections on national
security grounds to Moussaoui's wish to call witnesses who are members of al-Qaida. Moussaoui's request is on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
A written brief asking the high court to consider the question was made public Thursday. It was filed Jan. 10 but withheld for the removal of classified information.
abbottk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5188
posted by Marko at 11/06/2005 01:12:00 PM
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