Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001 3:30 p.m. EDT
Hijacker Spotted With Possible Chemical Burns Before Attack
Mohamed Atta was spotted in a Florida pharmacy suffering from what appeared to be chemical burns just days before he hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and slammed it into the World Trade Center.
"A pharmacist in Florida says Atta and another one of the hijackers visited his store in August and Atta had red burning hands," reported Fox News Channel's Rita Cosby late Monday.
"The pharmacist says he believes [the redness] was due to chemical burns. He said when he asked Atta what caused his hands to become red, he would not say."
Cosby said the pharmacist did not believe Atta was handling anything like anthrax at the time since his hands did not have any blisters.
Last week National Enquirer editor Steve Coz told ABC News the FBI was investigating a report that Atta's hand condition could be linked to anthrax infection.
Atta lived near The National Enquirer's offices at American Media Inc. in Boca Raton, Fla., where five employees have tested positive for anthrax exposure and one has died from the infection.