US releases handwritten letter in suspected hijacker's luggage
( 2001-09-29 10:26 ) (7 )

A four-page handwritten letter in Arabic containing Islamic prayers and instructions links the hijackers on three of the four planes that crashed in deadly suicide attacks on September 11, US Attorney General John Ashcroft said on Friday.

The letter, with warnings to know the plan and a pledge of allegiance to death, presented a "disturbing and shocking view into the mind-set of these terrorists," Ashcroft, the top US law enforcement officer, said in releasing it at FBI headquarters.

"This letter is clear evidence linking the hijackers on three separate flights on Sept. 11," Ashcroft said. It marked the first evidence made public by US officials linking three of 19 suspected hijackers on three different flights.

In releasing the letter, Ashcroft said it had been found in a piece of luggage belonging to Mohamed Atta, 33, an Egyptian suspected of being one of the lead hijackers in the attacks.

Atta, a pilot, was aboard American Airlines Flight 11, which hit the World Trade Center. Nearly 6,500 people are dead or missing in the attacks on the twin towers and the Pentagon and the crash of a fourth hijacked jet in Pennsylvania.

Ashcroft said two more copies of the letter were found. One was discovered in a vehicle parked by another hijacker at Dulles airport, near Washington.

He said a third copy had been found in the wreckage of the plane which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers apparently struggled with the hijackers.

Among the instructions contained in the letter was guidance to the hijackers for their last night.

'PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO DEATH'

"Pledge allegiance to death and renew the intention. Know the plan well from all aspects. Expect a reaction or resistance from the enemy," the letter said, according to a Reuters translation.

"Remind yourself of obedience on that night and that you will be exposed to decisive situations ... So discipline yourself, make yourself understand, convince yourself and incite yourself to that.

"Stay up all night and be diligent in praying for victory, empowerment and evident triumph," the letter said.

"Mention much the name of God," the letter said, adding that they were about to meet "the creator of the heavens and earth."

The letter told them to "purify and cleanse your soul of defects ... as the time for playing" was "past. The real deadline has come.

"How many hours of our lives we have wasted. Should we not use those hours to offer sacrifices and acts of obedience?" it said.

The letter also contained a warning. "Bear clearly in mind, if you get into trouble, how you conduct yourself, regain your strength and recover.

"Realize that whatever happens to you did not happen by mistake and whatever misfortune you escape was not meant for you," it said.

Justice Department officials were unable to say who authored the letter, which Ashcroft said provided instructions on what to do before and during the attacks.

"Let me make clear that while this letter contains a number of religious references, I do not believe it to be representative of Muslims or the Islamic faith," Ashcroft said. The FBI has said all of those believed responsible for the hijackings were males of "Middle Eastern descent."

HIJACKERS SAID TO PERVERT ISLAMIC FAITH

"The letter is a stark reminder of how these hijackers grossly perverted the Islamic faith to justify their terrorist acts," Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft said more than 480 people have been arrested or detained in the biggest investigation in US history into who was responsible for the hijackings and to prevent future attacks. On Monday, the number was more than 350.

Asked how close the United States was to bringing criminal charges against someone directly involved in the planning or the attacks, Ashcroft replied, "We're making progress in the investigation, but aren't ready to make announcements in that respect."

Ashcroft declined to say that Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden or his al Qaeda network was the only mastermind behind the attacks.

"We have not ruled out the participation of other individuals ad other organizations in this attack," he said.

FBI Director Robert Mueller said investigators wanted to "identify the ties not to just one individual, but any individual ... who may share responsibility for what happened on September 11."