Posted on 08/20/2002 12:52:55 PM PDT by Shermy
NEWARK, New Jersey - A man accused of providing fake identification to two of the Sept. 11 hijackers was arrested at New York's Kennedy Airport after returning from Egypt, authorities said Tuesday.
Mohamed el-Atriss was taken into custody by U.S. Customs agents when they noticed a warrant from Passaic County, said Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Newark.
El-Atriss, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Egypt, arrived in New York either late Monday or early Tuesday and faces extradition to Passaic County, Drewniak said.
Federal authorities have not charged el-Atriss, but "he remains of interest to us," Drewniak said. He declined to comment further.
El-Atriss flew to Egypt in late July, hours before Passaic County authorities came to arrest him in a July 31 raid on his home and businesses, investigators have said.
According to the FBI, el-Atriss sold phony IDs to Khalid Almihdhar, who was on the airliner that crashed into the Pentagon, and Abdulaziz Alomari, who was aboard one of the planes that hit the World Trade Center. Authorities have said they didn't know if el-Atriss knew of the hijackers' plans.
Passaic County authorities have charged el-Atriss with conspiracy, as well as manufacturing and distributing phony documents. They said he sold hundreds of fake drivers licenses, identification cards, auto titles and license plates.
County Sheriff Jerry Speziale, who conducted the raids on the home and businesses of el-Atriss, said in a statement that the arrest "marks the successful end of a lengthy investigation."
During the raid on an All Services Plus office in Paterson, New Jersey, investigators found rolls of plastic laminating sheets and backings used to make driver's licenses for several states. A sign outside the building identified it as a provider of international driver's licenses and ID cards, notary public, fax and passport services and a money transfer station.
Three employees at el-Atriss' stores were arrested and charged with manufacturing and distributing fraudulent documents and conspiracy.
Search Starts for Man Who Said He Sold ID's to Hijackers
Man Accused of Selling Fake IDs to Sept. 11 Hijackers Flees to Egypt
This ought to put the fear of God into terrorists everywhere!
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