Tracing the Path to 9/11: The Role of Said Bahaji

The Code and Conspiracy

Newsweek examines the developments leading to 9/11 as they unfolded 25 years ago. On August 20, 2001, key figures involved in the attacks communicated in code, with ‘architecture’ referencing the World Trade Center and ‘arts’ indicating the Pentagon. ‘Law’ referred to the U.S. Capitol building, while ‘politics’ symbolized the White House.

Said Bahaji’s Movements

On August 20, 2001, Said Bahaji, a German citizen, bought a ticket to travel from Hamburg to Karachi, Pakistan, stopping in Istanbul on September 3. Bahaji had previously roomed with Mohammed Atta in Hamburg and supported the hijackers when they were in the U.S. Departing Germany days before 9/11, Bahaji remained a fugitive until his reported death near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in 2013.

Background and Connections

The lone German in the Hamburg group, Bahaji was educated in Morocco before returning to Germany for higher education. While attending the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, he met Atta and together they requested a Muslim prayer room at their school in 1999. Bahaji frequented Hamburg’s al-Quds mosque alongside the 9/11 hijackers.

FBI intelligence on a video of Bahaji’s wedding on October 9, 1999 showed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, and bin al-Shibh in attendance. The footage featured political speeches, war poems, and songs glorifying jihad.

Al-Qaeda Connections and Later Developments

In summer 2001, Bahaji decided to join al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. The 9/11 Commission labeled Bahaji as insecure, lacking personality, and limited in his Islamic knowledge. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed advised early travel to Afghanistan due to anticipated complications.

Following 9/11, German warrants targeting Bahaji, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, and Zakariya Essabar charged them with terrorist group involvement, murder, and aircraft piracy. Investigations revealed Atta and bin al-Shibh used Bahaji’s computer, although his active participation appeared minimal.

Implications and Movement

Bahaji’s ticket marked the first of several operatives traveling to Pakistan and Afghanistan before the attacks. As events unfolded, authorities missed critical connections between Khalid al-Mihdhar, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and ‘Khallad,’ allowing key figures to evade scrutiny.

Upcoming Analysis

Next in this series: The FBI and CIA’s oversight in failing to differentiate between dangerous individuals enabled 9/11’s mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to operate undetected.