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Investigators Conclude Hadayet Acted Alone

Aired September 04, 2002 - 13:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, following a worldwide investigation, federal agents have concluded that a shooting on Independence Day at Los Angeles International Airport was a terrorist act, but the shooter was not a member of a terrorist group.
CNN's Charles Feldman been been working this story. He joins us now from L.A. -- Charles, what have you learned?

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, sources tell CNN that after a two month, worldwide investigation, federal investigators have concluded that the July Fourth shooting spree by an Egyptian national July Fourth at LAX was the act of a lone terrorist with anti-Israeli views.

Sources say Hesham Mohamed Hadayet was driven by his hated of Israel and his opposition to U.S. Middle Eastern policy. What investigators did not find, however, was any connection to a terrorist group. They found no evidence that Hadayet had any backing or contacts with such groups.

Rather, federal investigators have concluded that Hadayet was driven by a number of factors that day, factors that lead him to shoot and kill two individuals at the ticket counter of the Israel airline El Al before being killed himself by an El Al security guard. Investigators discovered that Hadayet was having financial problems with his limo business here in Southern California, as well as problems with his marriage. His wife and children had left for Cairo, and he apparently found himself alone and depressed on July Fourth, which happened to be his own birthday. Hadayet went to LAX heavily armed with two guns, several magazines, and at least one knife. Says one source, he wanted to be a martyr and take as many people with him as possible.

Now, the final decision on whether to label this a terrorist act by a lone gunman will be up to FBI headquarters in Washington, which is still reviewing the conclusions of its own investigators. That's it.

PHILLIPS: Charles Feldman from Los Angeles. Thanks, Charles.

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