Sept. 11 suspect possible in British plot

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, August 15, 2006

LONDON – British and German authorities are investigating a potential link between an alleged plot to bomb U.S.-bound planes and a fugitive in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, officials said Tuesday. The slim but intriguing lead emerged as British authorities made a new arrest and conducted 46 searches in connection with the alleged airliner plot.

Investigators are examining possible contacts between an unidentified suspect arrested in London last week and Said Bahaji, an accused Moroccan-German member of the Hamburg cell who fled to Pakistan days before the hijackers struck, authorities said.

One of the 24 suspects held in London, who are predominantly British Pakistanis with alleged ties to a militant network in Pakistan, may have tried to communicate with Bahaji through e-mail in 2004 and 2005, officials said.

If there were a relationship between the British plotter and Bahaji, it could suggest that Bahaji remains active and prominent in the al-Qaida network, which may have played role in the airplane plot.

Wanted on charges of murder in connection with Sept. 11, Bahaji is one of the few members of the Hamburg cell who have not died or been imprisoned or prosecuted. He was a roommate in Hamburg of Mohamed Atta, the lead hijacker, and Ramzi Binalshib, an imprisoned coordinator of the group.

Bahaji allegedly took advantage of his German citizenship to provide logistical support and cover as the Sept. 11 conspiracy developed.

Also Tuesday, a British watchdog agency disclosed that it has opened an inquiry into reports that funds raised by a Muslim charity, Crescent Relief, were diverted by the plotters.

Teams of British anti-terror police hit the streets again Tuesday in a follow-up operation to last week’s raids. They searched 46 locations, including businesses and residences, and 20 cars.

The operation also involved the arrest of a suspect in the Thames Valley area, but police disclosed no details.

Meanwhile, several senior officials and Parliament members have floated proposals to ratchet up anti-terrorism laws and introduce profiling to airport screenings. Opponents worry about an erosion of civil liberties, and fear airport screening focused on those “traveling while Asian” will further alienate the nation’s 1.5 million Muslims.

Many British officials who are floating the idea of profiling, however, talk of targeting not ethnicity, but behavior.