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American Morning
Al Qaeda Wedding Reception Video
Aired May 07, 2003 - 07:06 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Terrorists caught on tape. CNN has obtained a copy of an al Qaeda wedding video. On the tape, two of the 9/11 hijackers can be seen, along with other al Qaeda suspects, who are believed to have plotted the attacks.
Here is CNN's Mike Boettcher.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The video shows us members of the now infamous Hamburg al Qaeda cell that investigators believe was the core group of the 9/11 hijackers. The groom in the October, 1999 wedding reception in Hamburg, Germany is Said Bahaji, who German authorities accuse of helping plot the New York and Washington attacks. He fled Hamburg just days before 9/11, and is still at-large.
Seated to his right, Ramzi Binalshibh, a key al Qaeda figure who investigators believe played a major role in masterminding the terrorist plot. He was arrested in Karachi, Pakistan exactly one year after the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. During the reception, Binalshibh comments that all in attendance were part of a class for which there would be a test. "There will be some who pass and some who fail," he said.
Marwan Al-Shehhi, who was one of the hijackers of United Flight 175 that crashed into the second World Trade Center building, is standing on the far right of the group, which is singing to the groom.
Also at the reception: Ziad Jarrah, a hijacker of United Flight 93 that crashed into a Pennsylvania field. Hijack leader Mohammed Atta is not seen in the video, but investigators believe he was also present, as was Mahmoud Al-Kanzani, who was under investigation by German police for funneling money to the group. He denies any terrorist involvement.
The videotape has been in the hands of German authorities for many months, but recently released to lawyers representing the families of those who died in the 9/11 attacks. For investigators, lawyers and families, it provides a rare glimpse of the mysterious Hamburg cell that was celebrating a wedding at the same time they were believed to be plotting an attack.
Mike Boettcher, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HEMMER: Michael Elsner is an attorney with the law firm Motley Rice, a firm that obtained the al Qaeda videotape. The firm is representing a victims' group, The 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism, and Michael is with us live with us today in Charleston, South Carolina.
How did you get this tape? How did your firm come across it?
MICHAEL ELSNER, ATTORNEY, MOTLEY RICE: The Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism participated in the criminal trial of Motassadeq in Hamburg, Germany. And as part of testifying against Motassadeq in that trial, we were given access to this tape and other evidence concerning al Qaeda cell members operating in Hamburg.
HEMMER: And let me understand this. Did the German authorities have this tape for some time prior to your obtaining it?
ELSNER: They did. They seized the tape from Said Bahaji's home several months before it was released to us.
HEMMER: OK, how long ago would that have been then, Michael?
ELSNER: It would have been nearly a year-and-a-half ago.
HEMMER: Some people look at this videotape today, and they think, so what? I'm certain that you have a different interpretation. How does this affect your case, Michael?
ELSNER: This is a critical piece of evidence, because it places in one room the various critical members of the Hamburg cell, some of whom who denied a close association with one another. It's a wedding video. These are the intimate members of the Hamburg group.
HEMMER: Yes, why would they deny an association with one another?
ELSNER: Well, they deny the fact that they have shared in this common goal or common plan. Particularly, I'm referring to Darkanzoli (ph) and Zammar and their association with the other group. And we have learned that Zammar, in fact, has provided the recruitment, as well as Darkanzoli (ph) provided the financial resources to fund al Qaeda.
HEMMER: Michael what about the words that are spoken? What about the songs that are sung? What is your interpretation, and how would that affect you going forward?
ELSNER: Well, it's a wedding video, and I think it interesting that Ramzi Binalshibh conducts a 15 to 20-minute sermon -- it's a chilling sermon -- calling for jihad activities against the West and against Israel. And the songs that are sung throughout the video are traditional war songs sung by the Mujahideen.
HEMMER: Have you had much reaction from families of the victims?
ELSNER: They're very pleased that we have acquired this tape, but it's also very difficult to watch.
HEMMER: Pleased in what sense, I'm wondering? Pleased in what sense?
ELSNER: They're pleased in the sense that it provides critical evidence to identify the financiers of al Qaeda and those that were operating on al Qaeda's behalf. But it's a difficult tape to watch, as I mentioned.
HEMMER: Got to be chilling as well. Thank you, Michael -- Michael Elsner live in Charleston, South Carolina.
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 May 7, 2003 - 07:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Terrorists caught on tape. CNN has obtained a copy of an al Qaeda wedding video. On the tape, two of the 9/11 hijackers can be seen, along with other al Qaeda suspects, who are believed to have plotted the attacks.
Here is CNN's Mike Boettcher.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The video shows us members of the now infamous Hamburg al Qaeda cell that investigators believe was the core group of the 9/11 hijackers. The groom in the October, 1999 wedding reception in Hamburg, Germany is Said Bahaji, who German authorities accuse of helping plot the New York and Washington attacks. He fled Hamburg just days before 9/11, and is still at-large.
Seated to his right, Ramzi Binalshibh, a key al Qaeda figure who investigators believe played a major role in masterminding the terrorist plot. He was arrested in Karachi, Pakistan exactly one year after the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. During the reception, Binalshibh comments that all in attendance were part of a class for which there would be a test. "There will be some who pass and some who fail," he said.
Marwan Al-Shehhi, who was one of the hijackers of United Flight 175 that crashed into the second World Trade Center building, is standing on the far right of the group, which is singing to the groom.
Also at the reception: Ziad Jarrah, a hijacker of United Flight 93 that crashed into a Pennsylvania field. Hijack leader Mohammed Atta is not seen in the video, but investigators believe he was also present, as was Mahmoud Al-Kanzani, who was under investigation by German police for funneling money to the group. He denies any terrorist involvement.
The videotape has been in the hands of German authorities for many months, but recently released to lawyers representing the families of those who died in the 9/11 attacks. For investigators, lawyers and families, it provides a rare glimpse of the mysterious Hamburg cell that was celebrating a wedding at the same time they were believed to be plotting an attack.
Mike Boettcher, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HEMMER: Michael Elsner is an attorney with the law firm Motley Rice, a firm that obtained the al Qaeda videotape. The firm is representing a victims' group, The 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism, and Michael is with us live with us today in Charleston, South Carolina.
How did you get this tape? How did your firm come across it?
MICHAEL ELSNER, ATTORNEY, MOTLEY RICE: The Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism participated in the criminal trial of Motassadeq in Hamburg, Germany. And as part of testifying against Motassadeq in that trial, we were given access to this tape and other evidence concerning al Qaeda cell members operating in Hamburg.
HEMMER: And let me understand this. Did the German authorities have this tape for some time prior to your obtaining it?
ELSNER: They did. They seized the tape from Said Bahaji's home several months before it was released to us.
HEMMER: OK, how long ago would that have been then, Michael?
ELSNER: It would have been nearly a year-and-a-half ago.
HEMMER: Some people look at this videotape today, and they think, so what? I'm certain that you have a different interpretation. How does this affect your case, Michael?
ELSNER: This is a critical piece of evidence, because it places in one room the various critical members of the Hamburg cell, some of whom who denied a close association with one another. It's a wedding video. These are the intimate members of the Hamburg group.
HEMMER: Yes, why would they deny an association with one another?
ELSNER: Well, they deny the fact that they have shared in this common goal or common plan. Particularly, I'm referring to Darkanzoli (ph) and Zammar and their association with the other group. And we have learned that Zammar, in fact, has provided the recruitment, as well as Darkanzoli (ph) provided the financial resources to fund al Qaeda.
HEMMER: Michael what about the words that are spoken? What about the songs that are sung? What is your interpretation, and how would that affect you going forward?
ELSNER: Well, it's a wedding video, and I think it interesting that Ramzi Binalshibh conducts a 15 to 20-minute sermon -- it's a chilling sermon -- calling for jihad activities against the West and against Israel. And the songs that are sung throughout the video are traditional war songs sung by the Mujahideen.
HEMMER: Have you had much reaction from families of the victims?
ELSNER: They're very pleased that we have acquired this tape, but it's also very difficult to watch.
HEMMER: Pleased in what sense, I'm wondering? Pleased in what sense?
ELSNER: They're pleased in the sense that it provides critical evidence to identify the financiers of al Qaeda and those that were operating on al Qaeda's behalf. But it's a difficult tape to watch, as I mentioned.
HEMMER: Got to be chilling as well. Thank you, Michael -- Michael Elsner live in Charleston, South Carolina.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
