Cable: Mystery Qataris involved in 9/11 plot wore pilot uniforms upon arrival in L.A.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011   E-Mail this story   Free Headline Alerts

LONDON — The United States investigated three Qatari nationals believed linked to the Al Qaida suicide air strikes in New York and Washington in 2001.

A U.S. diplomatic cable disclosed that three Qataris suspected of being linked to Al Qaida had been under surveillance in 2001. The cable, released by WikiLeaks, reported that the Qataris visited several alleged Al Qaida targets, one of which was destroyed about two weeks later.

"They visited the World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, the White House, and various areas in Virginia," the cable said.

The cable said the Qataris, with tickets for the Sept. 11 hijacked flight to the Pentagon, left the United States on the eve of the Al Qaida strikes. The Gulf Arab visitors were also said to have appeared on an FBI list as part of the 9/11 investigation.

Later, officials acknowledged a search for the unidentified Qataris. But they said the FBI determined that they could not be charged because of lack of evidence.

The cable, however, said the Qataris arrived in Los Angeles and wore pilot uniforms. The visitors were also seen with printouts of pilot names, airlines and flights.

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