In August 20, 2001, Said Bahaji, a German citizen, furthered plans linked to the 9/11 attacks. He purchased a plane ticket to depart from Hamburg to Karachi, Pakistan, with a stopover in Istanbul, scheduled for September 3. This move highlighted his involvement in aiding the 9/11 hijackers during their preparations in the United States.
Bahaji shared a close association with Mohammed Atta in Hamburg. His departure from Germany took place shortly before the 9/11 attacks. His disappearance made him a wanted fugitive until his reported death near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in 2013.
Bahaji stood out as the sole German national among the Hamburg cell members. He was schooled in Morocco, but later pursued further education in Germany at the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg. His short stint with the German Army ended with a medical discharge.
Bahaji’s connection to Mohammed Atta began at university, where they collaborated in 1999 to request a Muslim prayer room. Bahaji regularly attended the al-Quds mosque in Hamburg, alongside the 9/11 hijackers. A video from Bahaji’s wedding on October 9, 1999, recovered post-9/11, featured Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, and Ramzi bin al-Shibh as attendees.
The FBI commented on this video, noting moments with political speeches and Arabic poetry centered on conflict, delivered by participants like Ramzi bin al-Shibh. Songs with themes of warfare and Jihad were prominent, with wedding guests responding enthusiastically with chants of ‘Allah is great!’
During the summer of 2001, Bahaji resolved to travel to Afghanistan, aiming to join al-Qaeda. The 9/11 Commission described him as lacking confidence and having a superficial understanding of Islam. Contacts, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, advised him on the urgency of reaching Afghanistan due to upcoming developments that could hinder his travel plans.
Following 9/11, German authorities issued arrest warrants for Bahaji, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, and Zakariya Essabar, accusing them of terrorist ties, murder, and aircraft piracy. Investigations revealed that Bahaji’s computer facilitated internet research for Atta and bin al-Shibh, though his direct involvement seemed limited.
Purchasing a ticket to leave Germany placed Bahaji among the first of the operatives traveling to Pakistan and Afghanistan before the attacks.
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