background image
ated with a particularly radical faction within the community of local worship-
pers, and had a network of contacts in other cities in the United States. After
9/11,Thumairy's conduct was a subject of internal debate among some Saudi
officials. He apparently lost his position at the King Fahd mosque, possibly
because of his immoderate reputation. On May 6, 2003,Thumairy attempted
to reenter the United States from Saudi Arabia but was refused entry, based on
a determination by the State Department that he might be connected with ter-
rorist activity.
12
When interviewed by both the FBI and the Commission staff, Thumairy
has denied preaching anti-Western sermons, much less promoting violent jihad.
More to the point, he claimed not to recognize either Hazmi or Mihdhar. Both
denials are somewhat suspect. (He likewise denied knowing Omar al Bay-
oumi--a man from San Diego we will discuss shortly--even though witnesses
and telephone records establish that the two men had contact with each other.
Similarly,Thumairy's claim not to know Mohdar Abdullah is belied by Abdul-
lah's contrary assertion.) On the other hand,Thumairy undoubtedly met with
and provided religious counseling to countless individuals during his tenure at
the King Fahd mosque, so he might not remember two transients like Hazmi
and Mihdhar several years later.
13
The circumstantial evidence makes Thumairy a logical person to consider
as a possible contact for Hazmi and Mihdhar.Yet, after exploring the available
leads, we have not found evidence that Thumairy provided assistance to the
two operatives.
14
We do not pick up their trail until February 1, 2000, when they encoun-
tered Omar al Bayoumi and Caysan Bin Don at a halal food restaurant on
Venice Boulevard in Culver City, a few blocks away from the King Fahd
mosque. Bayoumi and Bin Don have both told us that they had driven up from
San Diego earlier that day so that Bayoumi could address a visa issue and col-
lect some papers from the Saudi consulate. Bayoumi heard Hazmi and Mih-
dhar speaking in what he recognized to be Gulf Arabic and struck up a
conversation. Since Bin Don knew only a little Arabic, he had to rely heavily
on Bayoumi to translate for him.
15
Mihdhar and Hazmi said they were students from Saudi Arabia who had
just arrived in the United States to study English.They said they were living
in an apartment near the restaurant but did not specify the address. They did
not like Los Angeles and were having a hard time, especially because they did
not know anyone. Bayoumi told them how pleasant San Diego was and offered
to help them settle there.The two pairs then left the restaurant and went their
separate ways.
16
Bayoumi and Bin Don have been interviewed many times about the Feb-
ruary 1, 2000, lunch. For the most part, their respective accounts corroborate
each other. However, Bayoumi has said that he and Bin Don attempted to visit
the King Fahd mosque after lunch but could not find it. Bin Don, on the other
THE ATTACK LOOMS
217
Final 5-7.5pp 7/17/04 11:46 AM Page 217