Two key witnesses in the terror attack probe were found with a computer file labeled "killpresidentbush.exe" and documents linked to a money launderer for Osama Bin Laden, sources told the Daily News.Posted on 09/22/2001 2:05:18 AM PDT by kattracks
Two key witnesses in the terror attack probe were found with a computer file labeled "killpresidentbush.exe" and documents linked to a money launderer for Osama Bin Laden, sources told the Daily News.
The witnesses were identified as Saudi nationals who tried to board a flight from Kennedy Airport to Los Angeles two days after the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attack, a source familiar with the federal investigation confirmed. Their names remain secret.
The two are among a group of 10 material witnesses now in custody in the FBI's probe of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The two men showed up at Kennedy Airport on Sept. 13 seeking to board a Los Angeles-bound flight with tickets dated Sept. 11, the day of the attack.
Authorities at the airport grew suspicious because their tickets were backdated and because all four of the flights that were hijacked flew out of Eastern airports and were bound for the West Coast.
The Daily News has learned that authorities found two pieces of evidence that prosecutors believed could link the two Saudis to the terror plot.
One of the men had a computer file labeled "killpresidentbush.exe," said a source familiar with the investigation.
The source would not describe the contents of the computer file.
The other man had documents with references to a man the FBI has identified as a money launderer for Bin Laden, the Saudi millionaire who has called for Muslims to attack American civilians.
Investigators were taking the potentially explosive evidence very seriously.
The "killpresidentbush" reference was of particular significance because of death threats that were made against the President on Sept. 11 — the day of the attacks.
The White House revealed afterward it had received information that the terrorists' ultimate goal was to kill President Bush.
A death threat was called in to the White House that morning, saying the plotters were out to get Air Force One. The caller provided secret information that caused grave concern about the President's safety.
In fact, the threat was taken so seriously, White House officials say, that Bush crisscrossed the country in Air Force One, going from Florida to Louisiana to Nebraska before returning to the White House.
In addition, it is believed the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania may have been on the way to attack the White House or Air Force One.
Neither of the men in custody here has been charged with any crimes.
The FBI and Manhattan U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White wouldn't comment on the status of the investigation yesterday.
The number of material witnesses grew this week from four to 10 as the New York-based Joint Terrorist Task Force fanned out across the globe chasing thousands of leads — and seeking more than 200 individuals for questioning.
So far, more than 80 individuals have been detained, including 35 who are being held on noncriminal immigration violations.
The task force has focused much of its energy on the 10 material witnesses in custody because agents believe each has pertinent information regarding the terrorism hijack plot.
They also view them as a threat to flee.
In other developments, federal authorities here arrested a Middle Eastern man yesterday with fake pilot documents who arrived at Kennedy Airport on Wednesday on a flight from Spain.
Wael Abdel Rahman Kishk had a bogus pilot's certificate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which has been linked to at least one of the 19 suspected hijackers.
Agents also found two fake Federal Aviation Administration medical certificates pilots must possess to fly and an Egypt Airlines pilot's shirt, according to a complaint filed by Acting Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Alan Vinegrad.
Under questioning, Kishk admitted he wasn't a pilot and had the documents and shirt "to impress his friends," the complaint alleged.
Kishk was held without bail. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Friesen would not say if Kishk is linked to the terror probe.
Public defender Michael Schneider said Kishk denies having any connection to the terror attack and insists that he was coming to the U.S. to attend college.
The FBI also has turned to unusual sources in its quest for those responsible for last week's attacks.
A lawyer says the bureau is trying to talk with Ramzi Yousef, an admitted terrorist convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Bernard Kleinman said he has been barred from speaking with his client, who is jailed for life in the Supermax prison in Florence, Colo.
This week, Kleinman said he asked a Second Circuit U.S. appeals judge to allow him a telephone conversation with Yousef. The judge has not ruled on the request.
Why does it have an english name? and why is it a .exe? some sort of virus? Seems like LA's rampart unit may be in action in the counter-terrorism investigation.
Hillary didn't look too good, herself, for some reason.
I had "forgotten" this quote until this post of yours triggered the memory. When I remembered it, I went to post it on the thread about Rev. Al being out of sight, before coming back here.
Here's what I asked there:
Have we heard from Bill Cosby yet? I still don't like his "This is not the time" comment some years back.
That was the phrase passed among Scandanavian resistance fighters (in a movie about WWII) to tell them to ignore Nazi provocations until they were really ready to stage their full scale resistance.
I know this sounds paranoid...What can I say? I've always wondered why Cosby used those words.
hillary! was watching her Liberal agenda, and her plan to become prez, go down the tubes.
Maybe a former CIA Director who got trashed for taking his laptop home with him.
All they needed to do was name the file ilovefaggotsandqueers.exe and nobody would have said a word.
STUPID TERRORISTS! I'm disappointed.
I thought President Bush gave a terrific speech and his grief at the loss of our people and foreign personnel who were located in the WTC was genuine... Such a contrast to the lip biter... and speaking of the lip biter... did anyone notice how absolutely disinterested PIAPS ( pig in a pants suit Hillary) was during the speech... she clapped with such disinterest... and I thought looked at the First Lady with disdain...
Clinton was busy playing " patty fingers" with Monica
Condit was busy playing " patty fingers " with Chandra and who knows how many other women.
The president and the member of the intell committee asleep at the wheel. And here we are today!
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I put NOTHING beyond the realm of capability when dealing with sociopaths. And like you, I'm beginning to wonder...
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