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Mohamed Mani Ahmad al-Kahtani (sometimes transliterated Muhammed Al Kahtani or other ways) is a member of the terrorist group al-Qaida. He intended to come to the United States to take part in the September 11, 2001 attacks as a "muscle hijacker", but he was prevented due to suspicions that he was attempting to immigrate.
One of the organizers of the September 11 attacks, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, referred to al-Kahtani in intercepted phone calls as "the last one" to "complete the group". On August 4, 2001, al-Kahtani flew into Orlando, Florida from Dubai. Mohamed Atta, the lead hijacker and pilot, drove to the Orlando International Airport to meet him, but al-Kahtani was being held by immigration officials. The officials were suspicious because al-Kahtani he had little money, could speak no English, and used a one-way ticket. He frequently changed his story and could not adequately explain why he was visiting the United States. Thinking he was likely to become an illegal immigrant, al-Kahtani was sent back to Dubai. With the help of Hawsawi, he then travelled to Pakistan.
After the attacks, al-Kahtani was rounded up with many foreign fighters in Afghanistan and was sent to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base's Camp X-Ray. After ten months, U.S. authorities discovered that he was an attempted hijacker, and he was harshly interrogated. He currently resides at Camp X-Ray.
External links
The Final 9/11 Commission Report (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/index.html)
Information from the Partnership for Public Service (http://www.ourpublicservice.org/staff_name3761/staff_name_show.htm?doc_id=228748)
Search began with a stubborn detainee (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-06-22-kahtani-usat_x.htm) from USA Today
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