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Bin Laden Photos Found In Suspect's Home

Videotapes Of Martyrs Also Found In Suspect's Car

POSTED: 2:07 p.m. EST November 1, 2001
UPDATED: 5:09 p.m. EST November 1, 2001

A college student from Jordan -- who authorities said knew two of the Sept. 11 hijackers -- had pictures of Osama bin Laden and videotapes about martyrs in his home and his car.

That detail comes from prosecutors today in an indictment of the student, 21-year-old Osama Awadallah.

It was made public today in federal court in Manhattan, where two perjury counts were brought in a complaint last month against Awadallah.

The indictment said a search of Awadallah's car after he was taken into custody produced videotapes such as "Martyrs of Bosnia." It said a search of his apartment yielded computer-generated photos of bin Laden.

Awadallah was arrested in the San Diego area last month along with Yazeed Al-Salmi of Saudi Arabia and Mohdar Abdallah of Yemen. All three were taken to New York to testify before the grand jury.

According to prosecutors, Awadallah lied when he testified that he did not know Nawaf Alhazmi and Khalid al-Midhar. Federal authorities identified Alhazmi and al-Midhar, along with Hani Hanjour, as three of the terrorists aboard the American Airlines jet that crashed into the Pentagon.

According to prosecutors, Awadallah rented a room in the same house as Alhazmi, and was also seen with Alhazmi and al-Midhar at a La Mesa gas station where he worked.

Osama Awadallah Prosecutors also said that they produced an exam book from Grossmont College in which Awadallah, (pictured, right), allegedly wrote, "I have met many people from many countries. One of the quitest (sic) people I have met is Nawaf. Another one, his name Khalid. They have stayed in S.D. for 6 months."

Awadallah reportedly told the grand jury that he did not write those words, but then later changed his testimony and admitted that he did when the book was presented in court.

Awadallah was charged with two counts of making false statements in his grand jury testimony. Authorities do not accuse him of having knowledge of the terrorist attacks before Sept. 11.

The charges against Awadallah each carry a possible five-year prison sentence.

In charging Awadallah, prosecutor Mary Jo White stated, "This prosecution demonstrates that we will not allow perjury to impede the pursuit of justice ... Anyone who assists terrorists through lies and deception will be vigorously prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Authorities believe al-Midhar, Hanjour and Alhazmi lived in the San Diego area for several months and moved out a couple of days before the East Coast attacks.


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