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Zakaria MoussaouiConvicted of the September 11 attacks.
Date of Birth: 30.05.1968
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Childhood and Early Life
- Radicalization and Terrorism
- Training with Al-Qaeda
- Failed Flight Training in the US
- Arrest and Charges
- Trial and Sentencing
- Questionable Role in 9/11
Childhood and Early Life
Zacarias Moussaoui was born on May 30, 1968, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, to Moroccan parents. He spent his youth in the southern French town of Narbonne.
Radicalization and Terrorism
In the early 1990s, Moussaoui moved to the United Kingdom and enrolled in the University of South Bank in London. During his time there, he became involved in extremist activities and attended radical mosques, including the Finsbury Park Mosque.
Training with Al-Qaeda
In 1998, Moussaoui is believed to have undergone training at an Al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan. He later received instructions from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a high-ranking Al-Qaeda operative, to attend a flight school in Malaysia.
Failed Flight Training in the US
Moussaoui arrived in the United States in February 2001 and enrolled in a flight school in Oklahoma. However, he dropped out after 50 hours of training without obtaining a pilot's license. He subsequently enrolled in a flight school in Minneapolis, where he exhibited suspicious behavior, including an interest only in controlling a plane in the air.
Arrest and Charges
The flight school contacted the FBI, and Moussaoui was arrested on August 16, 2001, for visa violations. He was not immediately connected to the 9/11 attacks until after they occurred.
Trial and Sentencing
Moussaoui was charged with six counts, including conspiracy, in connection with the 9/11 attacks. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy in April 2005 but denied direct involvement. In March 2006, he claimed that he was ordered by Osama bin Laden to crash a plane into the White House. On May 4, 2006, he was sentenced to life in prison.
Questionable Role in 9/11
Moussaoui's true role in the 9/11 attacks remains unclear. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed claimed that he was not intended to be involved. Some speculate that his confessions were made to gain martyr status.
