Al Qaeda's hard drive
In December 2001, Wall Street Journal reporter Alan Cullison bought a computer from a looter, which had been used mainly by Ayman al-Zawahiri, but also by Bin Laden and other senior Al Qaeda members. The looter took the desktop computer, along with a laptop, from an Al-Qaeda office following a November 2001 bombing raid that killed several Al Qaeda members.[1] The computer's hard drive contained numerous files that reveal the inner workings of Al Qaeda. Memos on the computer referred to Al Qaeda as "the company" and its leadership as "the management".[2] The computer also contained files relating to Al Qaeda's chemical and biological weapons programs, as well as a propaganda video celebrating the attacks which featured 9/11 footage.[3] As well, there was a letter with details on the death of anti-Taliban leader, Ahmed Shah Massoud, on September 9, 2001, who was conned into an interview with a "journalist" and killed when a bomb detonated.[4] The computer also contained details on the planning of the 9/11 attacks, a process that Bin Laden, al-Zawahiri, Mohammed Atef, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed were all deeply involved with.[5]
References
- ↑ Alan Cullison of The Wall Street Journal discusses his purchase of a computer used by al-Qaida CNBC News Transcripts December 31, 2001
- ↑ Wall Street Journal says Kabul computer revealed files by top al-Qaida officials December 31, 2001, Monday, Associated Press - BC cycle
- ↑ Al-Qaida Files Revealed on Computer Associated Press Online December 31, 2001
- ↑ Al-Qaida Leave Cybermemos Behind; Top Aides' Computer Hard Drive Has Chilling Plans, Petty Frustrations, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 1, 2002.
- ↑ Cullison, Alan (September 2004). "Inside Al-Qaeda's Hard Drive", Atlantic Monthly.
External links
- Barringer, Felicity (January 21, 2002). "Why Reporters' Discovery Was Shared With Officials", The New York Times.
- "Interview With Alan Cullison, 'Wall Street Journal'". American Morning. CNN (August 6, 2004).
- "Interview with Alan Cullison". CSPAN (August 9, 2004).
- "Inside Al Qaeda's Hard Drive", NPR (August 4, 2004).
- Cullison, Alan (December 31, 2001). "A Computer In Kabul Yields A Chilling Array Of Al Qaeda Memos", Wall Street Journal.
- Cullison, Alan (January 16, 2002). "Terror Tour: How Al Qaeda Agent Scouted Attack Sites In Israel And Egypt", Wall Street Journal.
- Cullison, Alan (July 2, 2002). "Terrorist's Odyssey: Saga Of Dr. Zawahri Illuminates Roots Of Al Qaeda Terror", Wall Street Journal.
- Cullison, Alan (August 2, 2002). "Inside Al Qaeda's Afghan Turmoil", Wall Street Journal.
- Cullison, Alan (December 30, 2002). "Al Qaeda Acolyte, One Of Many, Vows To Die For The Cause", Wall Street Journal.