The FBI Finally Emailed Field Agents—12 Minutes Before Flight 11 Hit the Tower
The FBI later said that Bureau headquarters hoped other agencies would take action.
On September 5, 2001, the FBI sent a report and a briefing to the Minneapolis Federal Aviation Administration office regarding a potential threat of hijacking large airliners, specifically Boeing 747s. This information was gathered from Zacarias Moussaoui's investigation. The report detailed Moussaoui's radical Islamic fundamentalist beliefs, lack of experience, and connections to extremist groups.
French authorities also reported Moussaoui had traveled to Pakistan, a common transit point for terrorists heading to Afghanistan. However, the report did not indicate a specific threat assessment or that Moussaoui or others were preparing a terrorist attack on an airplane. In the days leading up to September 11, there was limited reaction to the FBI's findings, and Moussaoui was planned to be deported to France.
Just 12 minutes before American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower, FBI headquarters emailed the Minneapolis field office finalizing the deportation plans, believing the process would be completed within several days.
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