Sept 11 suspect ‘unaware of plot’

HAMBURG – A key al Qaeda suspect in US custody has claimed that the only man convicted over the September 11 attacks was unaware of the plot, US authorities told a German court yesterday.

Ernst-Rainer Schudt, the judge presiding at the retrial of Mounir El Motassadeq, appeared taken aback by the surprise announcement which, taken at face value, could see the Moroccan acquitted. “We have to consider what the consequences are,” Schudt said.In documents faxed to the court in Hamburg, northern Germany, by the US Justice Department, Ramzi Binalshibh, a Yemeni who has boasted he masterminded the suicide hijackings, reportedly told US authorities that Motassadeq was unaware of the plot.”Motassadeq did not know about the activities of the Hamburg group,” Binalshibh was quoted in the documents as saying, referring to himself and the three hijackers who had been based in Hamburg.According to the statement, Motassadeq was not informed about the conspiracy “for security reasons”.Motassadeq, 30, is charged with aiding and abetting the murder of some 3 000 people in the attacks in New York and Washington and membership in a terrorist organisation.- Nampa-AFP”We have to consider what the consequences are,” Schudt said.In documents faxed to the court in Hamburg, northern Germany, by the US Justice Department, Ramzi Binalshibh, a Yemeni who has boasted he masterminded the suicide hijackings, reportedly told US authorities that Motassadeq was unaware of the plot.”Motassadeq did not know about the activities of the Hamburg group,” Binalshibh was quoted in the documents as saying, referring to himself and the three hijackers who had been based in Hamburg.According to the statement, Motassadeq was not informed about the conspiracy “for security reasons”.Motassadeq, 30, is charged with aiding and abetting the murder of some 3 000 people in the attacks in New York and Washington and membership in a terrorist organisation.- Nampa-AFP