The 9/11 Suspect: Part Two - 7 Days of Interrogation

Omar Al-Baimi's Arrest and Initial Interrogation

• 📌 Omar Al-Baimi, a Saudi mature student, was arrested in Birmingham on September 21st, 2001, ten days after the 9/11 attacks.
• ⏱️ British police had only seven days to hold terror suspects under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2000 before needing to present new evidence or charge them.
• 🕵️ Al-Baimi was a person of interest due to FBI inquiries linking him to two 9/11 hijackers, Khalid Al-Midar and Nawaf Al-Hazmi, who were associated with a car found at Washington Dulles airport.
• 🤝 British detectives were largely dependent on the FBI for information regarding Al-Baimi, operating under an international protocol where evidence seized was handed over to American investigators.

Early Interrogation and Al-Baimi's Background

• 🗣️ On the first day of interrogation, Al-Baimi expressed a desire to speak with his embassy, which detectives found unusual for an ordinary citizen.
• 👨‍🏫 Al-Baimi stated he moved to the US in 1994, earned a master's degree, and was pursuing a PhD in business management in Birmingham, sponsored by his employer.
• 🧐 Detectives found Al-Baimi to be quiet and not physically threatening, with no initial demeanor suggesting he was a dangerous terrorist.

Unraveling Connections to the Hijackers

• 🏠 Investigators learned Al-Baimi had acted as a guarantor for an apartment for the two Pentagon hijackers, Khalid Al-Midar and Nawaf Al-Hazmi, when they arrived in San Diego in January 2000.
• 🤝 Al-Baimi eventually recalled helping a couple of Saudi men from Mecca City, later identified as the hijackers, by providing assistance with finding an apartment and opening a bank account.
• 📞 He admitted to meeting them in Los Angeles and giving them his phone number, though he initially forgot their names.

The Welcome Party Video and Unanswered Questions

• 📹 A significant piece of evidence was a video tape from Al-Baimi's property, allegedly showing a gathering where the hijackers were present.
• 👨‍🍳 While Al-Baimi claimed the hijackers, Nawaf and Khalid, did not appear on screen, investigators identified Khalid in the kitchen and Nawaf's name being spoken.
• 📸 Detectives did not press Al-Baimi further on the video evidence, despite the FBI reportedly knowing what the hijackers looked like.
• ✈️ Another tape labeled "Washington trip 1999" showed Lincoln Town cars near Capitol Hill, a known 9/11 target, raising further questions about Al-Baimi's activities.

Allegations of Saudi Intelligence Links and Financial Irregularities

• 🇸🇦 It was alleged that Al-Baimi received visits from a high-level Saudi diplomat during his detention, which is considered highly unusual.
• 🕵️ An FBI investigation in 1998 had previously looked into Al-Baimi based on reports of suspicious items in his apartment and suspicions from the local Muslim community that he was a spy due to his constant filming.
• 💰 Detectives noted substantial deposits, just under $10,000 each time, totaling over $325,000 into accounts accessible by Al-Baimi between February 1999 and January 2001, suggesting an effort to avoid alerting authorities.

Insufficient Evidence and Release

• 🤔 By the end of the seven-day period, detectives concluded there were too many coincidences and presented their findings to the US Department of Justice, recommending extradition.
• ❌ The US Department of Justice, however, decided there was insufficient evidence to justify extradition, leading to Al-Baimi's immediate release.
• 😔 Detectives expressed shock and disbelief at the decision, feeling that Al-Baimi was a guilty man responsible for the deaths of many people.
• 🇸🇦 Omar Al-Baimi was released and later returned to Saudi Arabia, taking all original evidence with him, with further revelations to come in the final part of the investigation.