German Terrorism Suspect in Prison - 2002-06-19

German security sources say a German citizen suspected of recruiting at least one of the September 11 attackers for al-Qaeda is currently imprisoned in a Syrian jail. According to these sources, Mohammed Zammar has been in prison in Syria for several months, but Germany only became aware of his detention last week. Press reports indicate that the United States was aware of Zammar's arrest. The Washington Post cited an Arab source linked to intelligence services stating that Zammar had been interrogated and provided information about al-Qaeda that was passed on to the U.S. The report notes that it is still unclear whether U.S. officials interrogated him directly or through Syrian government officials. Reports also indicate that Zammar, who is 41 years old, legally left Germany last October but was arrested in Morocco and subsequently handed over to Syrian authorities. According to these reports, Zammar was wanted in connection with a bomb plot in Syria. The port city of Hamburg in Germany has been identified as the base for several individuals accused of involvement in the September 11 conspiracy, including Mohammed Atta, who is said to have been their leader.