Arrest of Ramzi bin al-Shibh - 2002-09-14

A key suspect in the planning of the September 11 attacks on the United States has been arrested in Karachi. Ramzi bin al-Shibh, according to American and Pakistani officials, is a Yemeni national and has been accused of being a member of al-Qaeda. Ramzi and several other suspects were arrested on Wednesday in Karachi following a clash with Pakistani security forces. Arrest warrants have been issued for two of the detainees, while the others are in police custody. It is reported that two militants were killed during the clash. President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan stated that eight Yemenis, one Egyptian, and one Saudi citizen were arrested in this operation. Ramzi is expected to be interrogated today. Along with Ramzi, at least 11 other suspects were detained on Wednesday in Karachi following the clash with Pakistani security forces. The Pakistani Ministry of Interior announced that another prominent al-Qaeda member is among those arrested, but did not disclose their identity. According to the FBI, Ramzi played a crucial role in planning the September 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon, and if he had succeeded in obtaining a visa to enter the United States, he would have been one of the 20 hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks.