Czechs confirm Atta met with Prague-based Iraqi diplomat

AP ^ | 10-26-01

[Oldeconomybuyer]

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Oct 26, 2001 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Government officials confirmed Friday that suspected suicide hijacker Mohamed Atta traveled twice to the Czech Republic and met with an Iraqi intelligence agent at least once.

Interior Minister Stanislav Gross said the meeting between Atta and Iraqi diplomat Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Samir Al-Ani took place several weeks before Al-Ani's expulsion from Prague on April 22, 2001 for conduct incompatible with his diplomatic status.

Gross did not give a precise date or venue of the meeting and declined to answer questions on those topics.

Intelligence sources and government officials revealed Atta's contacts with Al-Ani' on condition of anonymity several weeks ago, but Gross was the first to state on record that such a meeting took place.

Gross said Atta - suspected of being on one of the airliners that smashed into the World Trade Center Sept. 11 - first entered the Czech Republic by bus from Germany on June 2, 2000 and flew to the United States from Prague the next day.

"We can confirm now that during his next trip to the Czech Republic he did have a contact with an officer of the Iraqi intelligence, Mr. Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Samir Al-Ani," Gross said, again without any details.

Gross said "a certain person" also tried to enter the Czech Republic without a valid visa in May 2000, but there was no hard evidence this person was in fact Atta.

Asked about Atta's suspected business ties in the Czech Republic, Gross said he could not confirm or deny such activities.

[aristeides]

"We can confirm now that during his next trip to the Czech Republic he did have a contact with an officer of the Iraqi intelligence, Mr. Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Samir Al-Ani," Gross said, again without any details.

Was this "next trip" the one in June 2000, or did Atta make a later trip to Prague?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

..."took place several weeks before Al-Ani's expulsion from Prague on April 22, 2001"...

Sounds like early 2001.

[aristeides]

Atta was in Spain in January 2001 (as well as in July 2001.) Maybe he made a side trip.

[Hotspur]

The story itself suggests the course of action. Demand of Iraq an accounting of Al-Ani's meeting with Atta and all supporting documentary and other evidence that relates to the meeting. Demand the right to question Al-Ani and any other Iraqi national about the meeting and Iraqi intelligence's relationship with Atta.

If such cooperation is not forthcoming, declare war immediately.

If there is an innocent explanation for the meeting--highly unlikely to say the least--Iraq can tell us. If not, it's war.

[Lion's Cub]

Paragraph above that says

- first entered the Czech Republic by bus from Germany on June 2, 2000

I took that to mean the next trip was after June 2, 2000.

CNN did some kind of special on Atta and hijackers, last weekend,I think-only saw part of it. Maybe they'll run it again. Seems to me they talked about multiple trips, too, though I couldn't pay that much attention at the time.