SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego college student taken to New York as a material witness in the terror probe has been released, 10News reported.

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Al-Salmi Eager To Return To San Diego

Sources say Yazeed Al-Salmi (picyured, right) was released from custody Tuesday and is expected to return to San Diego Thursday.

Al-Salmi, a Saudi Arabian national, is a student at Grossmont College. He lived in an apartment complex in La Mesa along with two other students who remain in custody as material witnesses in New York.

Randy Hamud, the lawyer for the three men, spoke with 10News Thursday via telephone.

He has said that his clients were acquainted with two hijackers, Nawaf Alhazmi and Khalid Almihdhar, when they lived in San Diego last year.

"Yazeed is not a terrorist and is not connected to any terrorists," Hamud told 10News.

"San Diego Arab-Americans are unfortunately bearing the brunt of the repressive tactics of the government since the events of Sept. 11," Hamud added.

Al-Salmi rented a room from Dr. Abdussattar Shaikh, a retired educator who also allowed Almihdhar and Alhazmi to stay in his home.

Shaikh also unknowingly housed two of the Sept. 11 hijacking suspects, according to 10News.

Shaikh's neighbors say that they identified Mohammed Atta from FBI photos, 10News reported.

Marna Adair told The Associated Press that Atta was polite and usually waved to her when she saw him visiting Shaikh's home.

The FBI says that Shaikh is not a suspect.

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