Germany told US intelligence about one of the Sept 11 hijackers two-and-a-half-years before the suicide plane attacks, but the crucial information was not passed on, German media reported yesterday.
According to the reports, Germany's domestic intelligence service warned the CIA in March 1999 that Marwan al-Shehhi was a suspected member of the al-Qaeda network.
However, the Central Intelligence Agency did not pass on the information to the FBI, the US State Department or immigration authorities, according to the German news magazine Stern.
As a result, the reports said, al-Shehhi who piloted the United Airlines plane that crashed into the southern tower of New York's World Trade Center, was able to enter the United States on May 30, 2000, and follow a pilot training course in Florida.
The CIA had been given his name, nationality and mobile telephone number, according to Stern.
A documentary film will be send tomorrow (Thursday) at 23:00 local time .
Related links:
STERN article
( 9 pages in German)
German television webside (ARD)
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