Posted on 01/11/2004 3:35:57 PM PST by DeaconBenjamin
PARIS - A passenger with a name similar to a suspected Al-Qaeda operative wanted by the United States failed to turn up for a flight from Paris to Los Angeles on Sunday for the second time in three weeks, airport officials said.
The passenger was booked on the Air France flight on Sunday as 'Abdul Haye', a name which bears a phonetic resemblance to that of a man who US law enforcement officials believe is linked to Al-Qaeda and spent time training in Afghanistan.
A passenger with a reservation in this name also failed to show up on Dec 24 for an Air France flight to Los Angeles, which was ultimately cancelled due to terror fears.
France cancelled the flight at the request of the US, which was concerned by the presence of certain names -- including that of 'Abdul Haye' -- on the passenger list.
On Jan 7, Paris airport officials and Air France had told French police that an Indian citizen called 'Abdul Haye' was expected to arrive in France on an Air France flight from Bombay.
The sources added that this passenger was a regular on the Bombay-Paris and Paris-Los Angeles flights and had a reservation made in this name on Sunday's 1.35pm (1235 GMT) flight to Los Angeles.
French police were waiting for 'Abdul Haye' at Charles de Gualle airport to check his identity and nationality and ask why he failed to appear for the flight on Dec 24.
But the man once again failed to appear for this flight or for the later departure at 8pm (1900 GMT).
Air security has been stepped up around the world in recent weeks after Washington said US intelligence showed Al-Qaeda could be planning airborne suicide attacks similar to those on Sept 11, 2001 on New York and Washington.
The US has also issued an emergency directive that foreign carriers put armed sky marshals on flights where US officials deemed there was a terrorist risk
WHAT'S IN A NAME? FRENCH authorities are aware of two people with the name 'Abdul Haye', both with Indian nationality.
One was born in 1961 and the other in 1962. Both live in Bombay and work at the same leather trading company, sources familiar with the situation said, adding that at least one of them has a home in Los Angeles.
French police sources said that there were different theories over the two 'Abdul Hayes': they could be two people with the same name, possibly brothers, or there could be just one person who needed a second passport due to an error over the date of birth for the first.
The 'Abdul Haye' wanted by the US is believed to have been captured by US forces in Afghanistan but later escaped.
I understand he was booked as "Krisp Krinkle".
If it is the dude who flies regularly, is he missing or something?? It doesn't make a lot of sense.
Could be he's feeding the fishes in the Red Sea too.
Oh I love that one, this is also from What The Blind Man Saw: I like it too;
A Twinkie and a Tastykake knockin' at the door They just come from the mini-mart store The lady went upstairs to get her gun Should-a seen the Twinkie and the Tastykake run
Yup, something like that or trying to exhaust our resources.
Correct. And the more general case: they are serious about completing their missions.
The usgov needs a HUA-ectomy yesterday.
LOL The image I have of Twinkie and Tastykake are cute girls. So is the lady jealous or what?
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