Investigators: Phone cards link Reid to al Qaeda

CNN ^ | 02.09.02 | Susan Candiotti

[callisto]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- New evidence has emerged linking Richard Reid, who is charged with trying to blow up a U.S. commercial jet by lighting explosives in his shoes, to one of Osama bin Laden's European cells, CNN has learned.

The new link to al Qaeda, the terrorist network run by bin Laden, involves phone cards.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[eno_]

Prepaid cellular does not require a card. The SIM cards in GSM phones represent user identity (which can be anonymous, or a false identity - identity isn't reliably checked by the people selling accounts). All it means is that you can move your account, prepaid or not, simply by moving the SIM card. It's a nice feature - easier and quicker than registering a phone to an account using a Web page.

[aristeides]

Hiking boots, not sneakers, eh? I wonder if the earlier reports that they cost 1,000 pounds were correct.

[Lion's Cub]

I guess I'm really dense tonight. Are you thinking military connection?