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CNN Live Today
Who Was to Be 9/11's 20th Hijacker?
Aired November 05, 2003 - 10:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now the most heinous mass murder in U.S. history, the September 11 attacks. More than two years after the 19 hijackers commandeered those airliners and killed some 3,000 people, one theory emerges from the shadows. This one involves a possible 20th hijacker.
Our justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more on the story through government sources. Kelli, good morning.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well several investigators say the FBI is working on a theory that 20 men entered the United States to take part in the September 11 attacks, but that one had to leave the U.S. before the attacks took place.
Now sources tell CNN that investigators don't know the identity of this 20th individual and that the information that led to this theory hasn't been corroborated yet. Now those sources say the information did not come from high-level al Qaeda detainees in custody. Now that includes two of the 9/11 planners, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Ramzi Binalshibh.
Now talk of this 20th hijacker started immediately after the attacks, Daryn. The plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania had only four hijackers aboard while the other his five. Investigators found out that al Qaeda operative Ramzi Binalshibh, you're seeing him here, had tried to enter the United States several times to participate in the plot, but couldn't get a visa.
So it was thought for a time that he was supposed to be the 20th hijacker. Then, of course, there's Zacarias Moussaoui who was taken into custody before the attacks. It was thought for a time that he was supposed to be No. 20. But after interrogating al Qaeda leaders, most investigators have ruled that possibility out.
Now as for this theory that there was another individual in the country before the attacks and had to leave, it is a theory, again, that's being investigated. No hard proof to back that up yet. Daryn, back to you.
KAGAN: So we're just talking one of many theories that are out there?
ARENA: That's right. I mean there are so many questions, Daryn, that surround the September 11 attacks. And investigators still don't have the answers to them. I mean obviously, all of it is very important two years after because as much as they can find out about this attack and how it was planned and the people involved, of course, will lead into possible operatives. And will help them to prevent future attacks.
But still this is one of those questions that remains a mystery. Lots of nebulous information pointing in some directions. But nothing that they've been able to corroborate concretely.
KAGAN: All right, thanks for helping us sort through it. Kelli Arena in Washington, thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 5, 2003 - 10:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now the most heinous mass murder in U.S. history, the September 11 attacks. More than two years after the 19 hijackers commandeered those airliners and killed some 3,000 people, one theory emerges from the shadows. This one involves a possible 20th hijacker.
Our justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more on the story through government sources. Kelli, good morning.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well several investigators say the FBI is working on a theory that 20 men entered the United States to take part in the September 11 attacks, but that one had to leave the U.S. before the attacks took place.
Now sources tell CNN that investigators don't know the identity of this 20th individual and that the information that led to this theory hasn't been corroborated yet. Now those sources say the information did not come from high-level al Qaeda detainees in custody. Now that includes two of the 9/11 planners, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Ramzi Binalshibh.
Now talk of this 20th hijacker started immediately after the attacks, Daryn. The plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania had only four hijackers aboard while the other his five. Investigators found out that al Qaeda operative Ramzi Binalshibh, you're seeing him here, had tried to enter the United States several times to participate in the plot, but couldn't get a visa.
So it was thought for a time that he was supposed to be the 20th hijacker. Then, of course, there's Zacarias Moussaoui who was taken into custody before the attacks. It was thought for a time that he was supposed to be No. 20. But after interrogating al Qaeda leaders, most investigators have ruled that possibility out.
Now as for this theory that there was another individual in the country before the attacks and had to leave, it is a theory, again, that's being investigated. No hard proof to back that up yet. Daryn, back to you.
KAGAN: So we're just talking one of many theories that are out there?
ARENA: That's right. I mean there are so many questions, Daryn, that surround the September 11 attacks. And investigators still don't have the answers to them. I mean obviously, all of it is very important two years after because as much as they can find out about this attack and how it was planned and the people involved, of course, will lead into possible operatives. And will help them to prevent future attacks.
But still this is one of those questions that remains a mystery. Lots of nebulous information pointing in some directions. But nothing that they've been able to corroborate concretely.
KAGAN: All right, thanks for helping us sort through it. Kelli Arena in Washington, thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
