9/11 Commission MFR for FBI Informer Abdussattar Shaikh

8/14/2019 9/11 Commission MFR for FBI Informer Abdussattar Shaikh

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Commission Sensitive

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

Event: Interview of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Date: 04/23/2004

Special Access Issues: none

Prepared by: Quinn John Tamm, Jr. and Dietrich Snell

Team Number: 1A

Non-Commission participants: Counsel for XxxxxxxxxxXxxxxx, Charles G. La Bellaand George C. loannides, FBI representative,Special Agent| |

The interview was conducted in the law offices of La Bella and McNamara, 401West A Street, Suite 1150, San Diego, CA. The interview began at 2:30 pm Pacific time.

| [arrived at the law offices at 3:30 pm.

XxxxxxocxxxXxxxxx, PhD., was introduced to Commission Staffers DietrichSnell and QuinriJohn Tamm, Jr. It was explained to D r


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Dr. Xxxxxx was asked about his relationship with the ICSD in January 2000. Dr.Xxxxxx stated that in January 2000 his only relationship with the ICSD was as anattendee of Friday prayers. He was not on the board of trustees of the mosque, and heldno other position with the ICSD. Dr. Xxxxxx stated that between 600 and 700 people

routinely attend the Friday prayer service at the ICSD. After the service there isgenerally some socialization in the common areas and parking lot of the mosque.

Dr. Xxxxxx was asked how he met Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar. InApril 2000, Dr. Xxxxxx explained that he had placed an announcement on the bulletinboard of the ICSD adjacent to the administrative offices of the mosque. The notice was inEnglish, and stated that Dr. Xxxxxx was interested in renting rooms in his house in

| It o "practicing" or observant Muslims. The notice only provided Dr./Xxxxxx 's telephone number for contact. Dr. Xxxxxx stated that he was standing in thehallway adjacent to the administrative offices at the ICSD when the mosque's secretary,

,; I ~|pointed him (Xxxxxx) out to al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar, Al-Hazmi spoke to/Dr. Xxxxxx with al-Mihdhar present. Al-Hazmi told Dr. Xxxxxx that he and al-Mihdhar

; needed at place to stay, "very badly." Dr. Xxxxxx said that the conversation wasI conducted in English. Dr. Xxxxxx explained that al-Hazmi had limitedEnglish skills,

"but go his message across." Al-Mihdhar spoke no English, and conversed with al-Hazmi in Arabic. Al-Hazmi stated that he and al-Mihdhar were living in an apartmentcomplex near the ICSD, but would have to vacate the apartment because "the person"they were living with was "leaving for Saudi Arabia." Dr. Xxxxxx recalled that theapartment building was on Mt. Aida Avenue in San Diego. Dr. Xxxxxx stated that it washis recollection that al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar came to his house inl Ion05/10/2000. D r. Xxxxxx bases this on the fact that al-Hazmi left his house on12/10/2000 and did not owe him anyadditional rent. D r. Xxxxxx said that al-Hazmigave him notice of his departure several days earlier and then selected 12/10/2000, statingthat would complete a full month's rent. Consequently, Dr. Xxxxxx presently believesthat he first met al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar on the .Friday before 05/10/2000, or05/05/2000.

It was noted to Dr. Xxxxxx by Commission staffers that al-Mihdhar changed themailing address on his bank account at the Bank of America from the Mt. Aida Avenueaddress to Dr. Xxxxxx's address on 04/19/2000. Dr. Xxxxxx did not have an explanationfor this contradiction, other than he recalled that al-Mihdhar lived with him forapproximately six weeks and he believed that al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar moved into hishouse on 05/10/200Q. Dr. Xxxxxx stated that he did assist al-Hazmi in opening achecking account, at the Bank of America branch.inl |CA, sometime afteral-Hazmi moved into his house. It is Dr. Xxxxxx's recollection that al-Hazmi opened theaccount with a $3,000.00 cash deppsit, in $100 bills, which Dr. Xxxxxx handed to thebank teller or employee. Dr..Xxxxxx did not know that al-Mihdhar had a bank account,and denied suggesting in a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report that al-Mihdhar"handled the .money."

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who had recently had a daughter: Al-Mihdhar had a photograph of his wife an d daughterwhich he showed to Dr. Xxxxxx. This confirmedDr. Xxxxxx's suspicion that al-Mihdharwas a Yemeni. No one else lived in Dr. Xxxxxx's house after al-Mihdhar left in June2000, and before al-Hazmi left in December 2000.

Soon after al-Mihdhar left, al-Hazmi introduced Dr. Xxxxxx to OmarBakarbashat. Bakarbashat was an individual that al-Hazmi met at the ICSD, and hebrought him to Dr. Xxxxxx's house to repair Dr. Xxxxxx's computer. Dr. Xxxxxx notedthat Omar al-Bayoumi also visited al-Hazmi at his house. Dr. Xxxxxx knew al-Bayoumias a Saudi national who Dr. Xxxxxx met at the ICSD. Al-Bayoumi stated to Dr. Xxxxxxwhen he visited, that "I referred them (al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar) to you." Dr. Xxxxxxrestated that this was not the case an d that he met the tw o in thehallway of the ICSDafter the Friday prayer service.

Al-Hazmidid not like al-Bayoumi and told Dr. Xxxxxx that al-Bayoumi was an"an agent for the Saudis." Al-Hazmi complained to Dr. Xxxxxx that al-Bayoumi videotaped people associated with the ICSD constantly. Dr. Xxxxxx noted that was his

experience when he attended events at the ICSD. Dr. Xxxxxx said that al-Bayoumialways had his videotape recorder an d sought comment to the open mike on the videotaperecorder. Dr. Xxxxxx stated that," I have heard that al-Bayoumi is an agent (of theSaudis)."

Dr. Xxxxxx was asked if he knew an individual by the name of Yazeed al-Salmi.Dr. Xxxxxx stated that al-Salmi had visited his home, and was an apparent friend of al-Hazmi. Dr. Xxxxxx said that he did not participate in a financial transaction with al-Hazmi and al-Salmi. Dr. Xxxxxx restated that his only financial transaction with al-Hazmi was assisting him in opening an account at the Bank of America. Dr. Xxxxxx wasalso asked again about hi s certainty on the date that al-Hazmi an d al-Mihdhar moved intohis house. It was noted that al-Mihdhar changed his address on his Bank of America

account from the Parkwood Apartments (the Mt. Aida Avenue address) to Dr. Xxxxxx'shouse on 04/19/2000. Dr. Xxxxxx said that he went to the Parkwood Apartments, nearthe ICSD to help al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar move from there to his house, and stillbelieved that they moved in on 05/10/2000. Dr. Xxxxxx was asked if either al-Hazmi oral-Mihdhar ever received any mail at Dr. Xxxxxx's house. Dr. Xxxxxx stated that theonly mail received for the two were Bank of America bank statements. Dr. Xxxxxx doesnot recall ever receiving any other mail. Dr. Xxxxxx said that that al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar could go to the curbside mail box and retrieve their mail, without Dr. Xxxxxxknowing that they had received mail.

During the period of time when al-Mihdhar was still living with Dr. Xxxxxx, al-Hazmi asked Dr. Xxxxxx to help him find a "Mexican wife." Dr. Xxxxxx explained thatmid-easternmen prefer Mexican women, because these women "blend" more easily intomid-easternsocieties. Al-Hazmi was using an internet webpage with the address,"muslimmarriage.com" to locate a wife. Al-Hazmi received only one response, from anEgyptian woman who E-mailed him. To Dr. Xxxxxx's knowledge, al-Hazmi did notrespond to theE-mail. Al-Hazmi also asked Dr. Xxxxxx to help him find anAmerican


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husband for his sister in Saudi Ara bia., One of the issues that Dr. Xxxxxxfinds( , >ft \ r .. . - - ,-, . .

perplexingis that al-Hazmiseem to "like America." Al-Hazmiwas interested in findingan American husbandfor his sister, and waswilling to marry a non-Muslim AmericanorMexicanwom an, with the hope of remaining in A merica.

Dr. Xxx xxx said that al-M ihdhar only lived with him, "for about six weeks." Dr.Xxxxxx recalls that al-Hazmi accompanied al-M ihdharto Los Angeles, CA, when al-Mihdharleft to return to Yemen. Dr. Xxxxxx neversa w al-Mihdhar afterthat time. Dr.Xxxxxx does not know if Mohdar A bdula wentto Los Angeles, CA with al-Mihdharan dal-Hazm i. Dr. Xx xxx x had a negative opinion of Abdu la. He stated that Ab dula cam e tohis home used his bathroom andleft a mess. W hen Abdula asked D r. Xxxxxx if peoplecould stay with Xxxx xx, Xxxxx x would refuse, because these individua ls were associatedwith Abdula. Dr. Xxxxxx described Abd ula asfrequentlybelligerent and loud . Dr.Xxxxxxfirst met A bdu la at the ICSD , and does not associate Ab dul a with any other SanDiego area mosque. Dr. Xxxxxx was asked specifically if he recalled seeing Abd ula atthe El Cajon, or Medina M osque. Dr. X xxxx x stated that he has never seen Ab dula at theM edina Mosque. Dr. Xxxxxx w as asked if he had any contact with Abdul Rahm an

Barzanji. Dr. Xxxx xx stated that heknew Imam Barzanji, and that Barzanji had askedXx xxx x's assistance. Dr. X xxx xx went on toexplain that Barzan ji wanted to become aUnited States citizen. Dr. Xxxxxx firstmet Imam Barzanjiat the ElCajon mosque.Dr.Xxxx xx said that this first meetin g wou ld have occurred be fore al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhararrived at Dr. Xx xxx x's hom e as roomers. Im am Barzanji was the guest preache r at theEl Cajon mosquean d thereafterthe guest of honorat a dinner in El Cajon.

At some point after al-Mihdharleft fo r Yemen, Dr. Xxxxxxbecame aware thatMohdar Abdu la helped al-Hazm iget a job at theTexaco gasoline stationin La Mesa, CA.Dr. Xxxxxx was disturbed by this employm ent because he knew that al-Hazm i did nothave a work permit.Dr. Xxxxxx was concerned thatthe Immigrationan d NaturalizationService (INS) wouldfind out about the employmentand that it would reflect negatively

upon Dr. Xxxx xx. Dr. Xxxxxx w arned al-Hazm i that he could be deported if the INSdetermined thathe wasworking withouta work permit. Al-Hazmidid notappear to beconcerned about thisbecauseAbdulawas already em ployedat the gasstation with otherillegal workers.D r. Xxxxxx told al-Hazminot to discusshis employmentat the gasstation with him. Dr. Xxxxxx had previously asked al-Hazmi how he supported him self.Al-Hazmireplied thathis father senthim money from Saudi Arabia.Dr. Xxxxxx statedagain that Khalid al-Mihdhar did not controlal-Hazmi'smoney.

Dr. Xxxxxx was asked if he knew or had met EyadKreiwish. Dr. Xxxxxx statedthat he did not know this individu al. Neither did Dr. Xxxxxx know O sama Mu stafa. Dr.Xxxxxxdid know Osama Owadallah.Dr. Xxxxxxfirst metOwadallahat the elRabatMosque, after09/11/2001. This m osque is also know n as the Saranac Street M osque .

Dr. Xx xxx x was also very familiar with the imam o f the Saranac Street Mosque,Anwar A ulaqi. Dr. Xxxxxx stated that Imam A ulaq i spoke excellent English, havinglived in the United States for m anyyears.Dr. Xxxxxx said that al-Hazmi respectedAulaqi,an d told Dr. Xxxxxx thathe (al-Hazm i) spokewith Aulaqion a regularbasis. Dr.


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CommissionSensitive

Xxxxxx knew thatAulaqi's parents were from Yemen, but Aulaqi was an Americancitizen. Aulaq i's father was amajor governmentofficial, the Minister of Agriculture, andthe father encouraged Aulaqito remain in the Un ited States. Dr. Xxxxxx stated thatAulaqi eventuallyleft the el Rabat Mosque and took a new assignment at a mosque inVirginia.

Dr. Xxxxxx understood that Aulaqileft after a dispute with the president of the board oftrustees of the el Rabat Mosque. The president of the board's last nam e is Hbshi. AfterAulaqi left, Xxxxxx had no more contact withhim.

Dr. Xxxxxx was asked if he knew the imam of the King Fahad Mosque in CulverCity, CA. Dr. Xxxxxx advisedthat he did know Fahadal-Thuraairy, the former imam.Dr. Xxxxxx related that he first met al-Thumairy at the opening of the Som ali mosquenear San Diego State University at 50th Street. Dr. Xx xxx x stated that al-Th um airy wasscheduled to preach at the first prayer service at the mosque but was late andonlyattended the dinner after the service. The dinner was held at the Aswan Restaurant and alamb was slaughtered as part of the festivities. Dr. Xxxxxx said that it was not theholiday of Bid, where lamb sare traditionally slaughtered. Because al-Thumairywas from

Saudi Arabia, most of the participants at the dinner hoped for a substantial contributionfrom al-Thum airy. Al-T hum airy did not speak or preach at the dinner.

After that tim e Dr. Xxxxxx has attended the Culv er City m osque threeto fourtimes when al-Thumairy w as the preacher. Dr. Xxxxx x never heard al-Thumairy preachan anti-Am erican sermon,nor has Dr. Xxxxxx been toldby others of anti-Americansermons. Nawafal-Hazmi never told Dr. Xxxxxx that he knew or had met al-Thumairy.Dr. Xxxxxx does not know M oham m ed al-Muhanna, the other imam at the Culver Citymosque. Dr. Xxxx xx does know anotherindividual by the sam e name. Dr. Xxxxxx hasalso met thedirector of the Islamic Foundation of Los Angeles, the owner of the KingFahad or Culve r City mosque. Dr. Xxxxxx described this individualas a Nigerian withthe last name of Swab. Dr. Xxxxxx was asked where he stayed when he visited the

Culver City mosque. Dr. Xxxxx x said that when he did remain in Los A ngeles over-night he would stay in "downtown" Los Angeles. No one from the Culver City mosqueever recommendedany hotel to him. Dr. Xxxxxx said thathe has never been to the Saudiconsulate in Los Angeles. When he applied for a visa to visit Saudi Arabiahe did so bythe U.S. Mail. Dr. Xxxxxx was last in Saudi Arabia seven to eight years ago.

Dr. Xxxxxx was asked if he knew Khalil al-Khalil. Dr. Xxxxxx stated thatheknows of al-Khalil; remarking that al-Khalilis married to an Italian wom an. Al-K halilisa friend of a close friend of Xxxxxx's| | Dr. Xxxxxx did not meet al-Khalilwhen he visited San Diego. Om ar al-Bayoumi also spughtthe assistance of| I Dr.Xxxxxx knows that al-Bayoumi askedj |to help him obtain a "Green Card."Dr. Xxxxxx cautionedj lagainst helping al-Bayoumi because Xxxxxx believed thathe (al-Bayoumi) was an intelligence agent. |;

Dr. Xxxxxx was asked what other roomersor boarders he had at his home during2000. Dr. Xx xxxx said thatafter al-Haimi left, Ran|ez Noamain,Yazeed al-Salmi andOmar Bakarbashatlived in his house for varyinglerigths of time. Dr. Xxxxxx stated that

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no one lived at the house whenal-Mihdhar andal-Hazmi were there; includingthe time


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:9/ll Personal Privacy

~ ~ - Commiss ion Sensitive

said that the teacher had flever purchased the insurance. Dr. Xxxxxx thereafterconsidered the teacher to be a "cott artist." Dr. Xxxxxx said that the teacher's brotherworked full-time ia the United States and was married.

Dr. Xxxxxx was shown a series of phonographs. He identified two photographs of

al-Hazmi and one photograph of al-Mihdhar. Dr, Xxxxxx also identified Yazeed al -Salmi, and Anwaf Aulatji. Dr. Xxxxxx said that ^photograph of Qualid Benomranewas "familiar." > >

Dr. Xxxxxx only knows oil H > ybeing-questionedabout him by theFBI. He heard through the questioning thaty . Imay be a friend of a^Hazmi's.

I Es not a muj^deen,although Dr. Xxxxxx has never met[

Dr. Xxxxxx knows of I Ithrough al-Hazmi who describe'as a richman.;who may give'unonevto t h e ,mosques:.Since.Dr. Xxxxxx WI |he ma,4e & request oil . I for ^contribution, hut never received anymoney. Dr. Xxxxxxisaid that I Iwasa Yemeni, and he sawfll-Hazm iand I

together at the ICSDi D r>Xxxxxx \yas askedifhe thoughiT fmay have supportedal-Hazmi financially.: D t f .Xxipixx seated,that this Syas "possible." Dr. Xxxxxx was askedabout! i l D r!J \x sa idthkt he has borrowed money fronil " but hasnow paid the money; bac Dr. Xipockx stated thathernet| jatthe Orange Countymosque. Dr. M. Sideiqi i s^anothet!financial contact of Xxxxxx s. Dr, Xxxxxx has askedfor financial support ifrom|l \r a program for; iyid'ftws and divorcees that Dr.Xxxxxx has an interst in' s th \

Dr. Xxxxxx mentioned that the name of Atiqulla al - Mahdi was mentioned at theICSD during the Friday prayer service. Dr. Xxxjtxx said that Mahdi had been recentlyreleased from prison after serving a te^rm for illegal arms sales. Several other people Dr.Xxxxxx knows from the mosque include/ \

^

Individuals whb staved with Dr. Xxxxxx for shprt periods of tinie included aperson by the name of l iwho al-Hazmi met at the ICSD and stayed for one week.Also staying with Xxxxxx for a short period of time was! I] |was aMoroccan who later left and went to Ufah| ""jwould have "overlapped" with al-Hazmi in November and December 2000.

Dr. Xxxxxx was asked about a financial transaction that involvedl I al-Hazmi and himself. Dr. Xxxxxx said that! 1 wanted to purchase a cashier's checkand to save the seven dollar fee at his bank (Union Bank of California) asked Xxxxxx an dal-Hazmi if the cashier'scheck could be purchased at the Bank of America where there isno fee. Dr. Xxxxxx and al-Hazmi agreed to this arrangement and converted fs cashto the cashiers' check.


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Dr. Xxxxxx was asked if he told FBI SpecialAgent| [about al-Hazmiand al-Mihdhar. He stated thath"etold j jth'at he had two Saudte living in hishouse. Dr. Xxxxx x alsotoldl fthat al-Mihdh ar had returnedto Yemen. Dr.Xxxxxx does no t have a specific mem oryof an y of the conversations, 0r when theconversations occurredwith| [ \1 LawEnforcement

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9/11 Commission MFR for FBI Informer Abdussattar Shaikh