https://www.archives.gov/declassification/iscap/pdf/2012-048-doc17.pdf
Southern California Connections
Omar Al-Bayoumi: Al-Bayoumi, a Saudi national, provided September 11 hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar with considerable assistance after the hijackers arrived in San Diego in February 2000. He helped them locate an apartment, co-signed their lease, and ordered Mohdhar Abdullah (discussed below) to provide them with whatever assistance they needed in acclimating to the United States. The FBI now believes that in January 2000 al-Bayoumi met with Fahad al-Thumairy, a Saudi diplomat and cleric, at the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles before going to the restaurant where he met the hijackers and engaged them in conversation. Whether or not al-Bayoumi's meeting with the hijackers was accidental or arranged is still the subject of debate. During his conversation with the hijackers, Al-Bayoumi invited them to move to San Diego, which they did shortly thereafter. Al-Bayoumi has extensive ties to the Saudi Government and many in the local Muslim community in San Diego believed that he was a Saudi intelligence officer.
The FBI believes it is possible that he was an agent of the Saudi Government and that he may have been reporting on the local community to Saudi Government officials. In addition, during its investigation, the FBI discovered that al-Bayoumi has ties to terrorist elements as well . j..8')
Osama Bassnan: Bassnan was a very close associate of al-Bayoumi's, and was in frequent contact with him while the hijackers were in San Diego. Bassnan, a vocal supporter of Usama Bin Ladin, admitted to an FBI asset that he met al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar while the hijackers were in San Diego, but denied this in a later conversation. There is some circumstantial evidence that he may have had closer ties to the hijackers, but the FBI has been unable to corroborate this additional reporting. Bassnan received considerable funding from Prince Bandar and Princess Haifa, supposedly for his wife's medical treatments. According to FBI documents, Bassnan is a former employee of the Saudi Government's Educational Mission in Washington, D.C.J8}
Fahad Al-Thumairy: Until recently al-Thumairy was an accredited Saudi diplomat and imam at the King Fahad Mosque in Culver City, California. The news media reported that the U.S. Government revoked al-Thumairy's visa in May 2003 ; the diplomat subsequently returned to Saudi Arabia. The FBI now believes that Omar al-Bayoumi met with al-Thumairy at the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles before al-Bayoumi went to the restaurant where he met the hijackers. According to witness reporting, al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar were also taken to the King Fahad Mosque while they were in the United States. J.Sr
This list is a summary of the most important individuals with whom the hijackers may have had contact. There are others about whom we currently have less information but who may be of interest later in our inquiry.
Mohdhar Abdullah: Abdullah was tasked by Omar al-Bayoumi to provide al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar with whatever assistance they needed while in San Diego. Abdullah, who became one of the hijackers' closest associates in San Diego, translated for them, helped them open bank accounts, contacted flight schools for the hijackers, and helped them otherwise acclimate to life in the United States. }8). .
Osama Nooh and Lafi al-Harbi: Al-Harbi and Nooh are Saudi naval officers who were posted to San Diego while hijackers al-Mihdhar and al Hazmi were living there. After the September 11th attacks, the FBI determined that al-Hazmi had telephonic contact with both Nooh and al-Harbi while al-Hazmi was in the United States. ,CS1
Other Possible Saudi Government Contacts
Mohammed Quadir-Harunani: Quadir-Harunani has been the subject of an FBI counterterrorism investigation since 1999 and the FBI is currently investigating whether he had contact with the September 11th hijackers. In June 2000 a call was placed from Transcom International, a company owned by Quadir-Harunani, to a number subscribed to by Said Bahaji, one of the key members of the Hamburg cell. Quadir-Harunani is also a close associate of Usama bin Ladin's half-brother, Abdullah Bin Ladin (discussed below), who was assigned to the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C.-E87
Abdullah Bin Ladin: Abdullah bin Ladin (ABL) is reportedly Usama bin Ladin's half-brother. He is the President and Director of the World Arab Muslim Youth Association (WAMY) and the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Studies in America. Both organizations are local branches of non governmental organizations based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. According to the FBI, there is reason to believe that WAMY is "closely associated with the funding and financing of international terrorist activities and in the past has provided logistical support to individuals wishing to fight in the Afghan War." ABL has been assigned to the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. as an administrativeofficer. HeisacloseassociateofMohammedQuadir Harunani's and has provided funding for Transcom International. -fBr
Fahad Abdullah Saleh Bakala: According to an FBI document, Bakala was close friends with two of the September 11th hijackers. The document also notes that Bakala has worked as a pilot for the Saudi Royal Family, flying Usama Bin Ladin between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia during UBL's exile.
Hamad Alotaibi: Alotaibi was assigned to the Saudi Embassy Military Division in Washington, D.C. According to an eyewitness report, one of the September 11th hijackers may have visited Alotaibi at his residence; another
FBI document notes that a second hijacker may have also visited this address.
Hamid Al-Rashid: Al-Rashid is an employee of the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority and was apparently responsible for approving the salary of Omar al Bayoumi. Hamid al-Rashid is also the father of Saud al-Rashid, whose photo was found in a raid of an al-Qa'ida safehouse in Karachi and who has admitted to being in Afghanistan between May 2000 and May 2001. k8)
Homaidan Al-Turki: Al-Turki is a Saudi student living in Colorado. According to FBI documents, he has ties to the Saudi Royal Family and the Saudi Government is funding his education. AI-Turki was in contact with an individual in Germany in 2001 who was also in contact with one of the hijackers prior to the attacts;.JB')
Ghassan Al-Sharbi: Al-Sharbi is a Saudi student who was taking flight lessons in the Phoenix area before the September 11 attacks and is mentioned in the "Phoenix EC." The U.S. Government captured al-Sharbi in the same location where Abu Zubaida was discovered in early 2002. After Al-Sharbi was captured, the FBI discovered that he had buried a cache of documents nearby, including an envelope from the Saudi Embassy in Washington that contained al-Sharbi' s flight certificate. j 8
Saleh Al-Hussayen: According to FBI documents, Saleh Al-Hussayen is a Saudi Interior Ministry employee/official and may also be a prominent Saudi cleric. According to one news article, Saleh Al-Hussayen is the Chief Administrator of the Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina. An FBI affidavit notes that Saleh Al-Hussayen stayed in the same hotel as three of the hijackers on September 10, 2001. He told the FBI that he did not know the hijackers. The FBI agents interviewing him, however, believed he was being deceptive. The interview was terminated when al-Hussayen either passed out or feigned a seizure and was taken to the hospital; he then departed the country before the FBI could reinterview him. Saleh Al-Hussayen is 'also the uncle of Sami Al-Hussayen (discussed below). -f8t
Sami Al-Hussayen: In February 2003 Sami Al-Hussayen was arrested and charged with visa fraud. According to the indictment, al-Hussayen routed thousands of dollars he received from overseas sources to the Islamic Assembly of North America, an organization also under investigation for ties to terrorism. Al-Hussayen also allegedly set up web sites that promoted suicide bombing and using airplanes as weapons four months before the September 11 attacks. ..(.S1
Mohammed Fakihi: Fakihi is a Saudi diplomat. Until recently he was assigned to the Islamic Affairs Section of the Saudi Embassy in Berlin, Germany. Soon after the September 11th attacks, German authorities searched the apartment of Munir Motassadeq, an associate of the hijackers in Hamburg, and found Fakihi's business card. According to press reports, the Saudis did not respond to German requests for information on Fakihi. More recently, German authorities discovered that Fakihi had contacts with other terrorists; Fakihi was subsequently recalled to Saudi Arabia.kS]
Salah Bedaiwi: Bedaiwi is a Saudi Naval officer who was posted to a U.S. Navy base in Pensacola, Florida. He visited the Middle Eastern Market in Miami, a location frequented by several of the hijackers, and was in contact with at least one of the hijackers' possible associates. The FBI has been investigating these connections, as well as his ties to other terrorist elements.
-t8)
Mohammed Al-Qudhaeein and Hamdan Al-Shalawi: Al-Qudhaeein and Al-Shalawi were both Saudi students living in the Phoenix area. Qudhaeein was receiving funding from the Saudi Government during his time in Phoenix. Qudhaeein and Al-Shalawi were involved in a 1999 incident aboard an America West flight that the FBI's Phoenix Office now believes may have been a "dry run" for the September 11th attacks. Al-Qudhaeein and Al Shalawi were traveling to Washington, D.C. to attend a party at the Saudi Embassy; the Saudi Embassy paid for their airfare. According to FBI documents, during the flight they engaged in suspicious behavior, including several attempts to gain access to the cockpit. The plane made an emergency landing in Ohio, but no charges were filed against either individual. The FBI subsequently received information in November 2000 that Al-Shalawi had been trained at the terrorist camps in Afghanistan to conduct Khobar Tower type attacks and the FBI has also developed information tying Al-Qudhaeein to terrorist elements as well.....f8)
Ali Hafiz Al-Marri and Maha Al-Marri: Ali Al-Marri was indicted for lying to the FBI about his contact with Mustafa Al-Hasawi, one of the September 11th financiers. Ali Al-Marri, who arrived in the United States shortly before the September 11th attacks, attempted to call Al-Hasawi a number of times from the United States. The FBI has recently received reporting that he may also have been an al:.Qa'ida "sleeper agent." According to FBI documents, Ali Al-Marri has connections to the Saudi Royal Family. The Saudi Government provided financial support to his wife, Maha Al-Marri, after Ali Al-Marri was detained and assisted her in departing the United States before the FBI could interview her. .f81
FBI informant codenamed "Muppet." Two September 11 hijackers, Nawaf al Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, resided in San Diego with an FBI informant codenamed "Muppet. " A third hijacker may also have visited Muppet's residence. The FBI agent handling "Muppet" prior to the attacks was aware that Muppet had two Saudi rooriUnates named "Nawaf' and "Khalid," but did not know their complete identities until after the attacks. The FBI has investigated Muppet and has concluded that he did not have advance knowledge of the attacks . The FBI acknowledges that some questions remain with regard to Muppet's credibility, but does not believe that the remaining issues reflect on the central issue of whether he was aware of the hijackers' plans or intentions.
The Joint Inquiry was not able to interview or depose Muppet to address these issues.
Primary FBI, CIA and NSC personnel involved in investigations of the
following individuals: Individuals of interest:
a. Salah Bedaiwi
b. Fahad Al-Thumairy
c. Abdullah Bin Ladin
d. Sami Al-Hussayen
e. Saleh Al-Hussayen
f. Ghassan Al-Sharbi
g. OsamaNooh
h. Lafi Al-Harbi
1. Omar Al-Bayoumi
J. Osama Bassnan
k. Mohdhar Abdullah
1. Mohammed Al.,.Qudhaeein
m. Hamdan Al-Shalawi
n. Omar Saleh Badahdah
o. Munir Al-Motassadeq
p. Mohammed Fakihi
q. Ali and Maha Hafeez Al-Marri
r. Said Bakala
Fahad Alotaibi Hamad Alotaibi
Homaidan Al-Turki;
2. German BKA personnel involved in Motassadeq investigation and trial
3. Author of CIA paper on XXXXXXXXXX
4. Current NSC and Treasury Officials involved in the September 11th
investigation.
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