Al Qaeda agent admits aiding Sept. 11 attacks

By Admin on April 30, 2009

Accused Al Qaeda sleeper agent Ali Al-Marri made a stunning reversal in federal court in Peoria today, pleading guilty to conspiring and providing support for two of the chief architects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Ali Al-Marri entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm in Peoria. He admitted to one count of conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.

Al-Marri, a legal U.S. resident and native of Qatar, was arrested in late 2001 while studying at Bradley University in Peoria after federal authorities alleged he was tied to organizers of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The Bush administration declared Al-Marri an “enemy combatant” in late 2001 and held him without charges for more than five years at a Navy brig in South Carolina. The designation was dropped when he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Illinois.

The conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for July 30.

The government says Al-Marri met with Osama bin Laden in the summer of 2001 and was sent to the U.S. to help Al Qaeda operatives carry out post-Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

He got a bachelor’s in business management administration from Bradley in 1991, then went to work for a bank in Qatar. He is married and has five children.

Al-Marri decided to return to Bradley, obtained a student visa and returned to the U.S. on Sept. 10, 2001.

Joel Hood, Associated Press

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