Free Republic

<p>PATERSON, N.J. — A man who allegedly sold fake IDs to two of the Sept. 11 hijackers apparently fled the country for Egypt just before authorities came to arrest him in a raid on his home and businesses Wednesday, investigators said.</p>

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,"...

PATERSON, N.J. (AP) - Secret evidence presented in a closed court session alleged that a man who sold fake IDs to two of the Sept. 11 hijackers had closer ties to terrorism than previously revealed, according to transcripts released Tuesday. In the end, authorities found no evidence to bring terrorism charges against Mohamad El-Atriss, and U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie said Tuesday that El-Atriss "is not considered a threat to national security by us." In a plea bargain, El-Atriss was sentenced in March to five years' probation and fined $15,000 for selling phony documents. El-Atriss and his lawyer on Tuesday...

PATERSON, N.J., Jul 31, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A man who authorities said sold fake identification to two of the Sept. 11 hijackers apparently left on a flight to Egypt hours before authorities raided his home and businesses Wednesday, officials said. Mohamad El Atriss operated businesses in Paterson and Elizabeth where he sold the IDs, said Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale. Authorities raided his home and business Wednesday afternoon and were told Atriss had took a flight from Newark to Egypt earlier that morning, Speziale said. Atriss sold a fake identification card to Khalid Almihdhar, who was...