Terror case dealt blow when key witness sets himself afire

[quaoar]

It seems the guy who set himself on fire at the White House was a key FBI informant.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--terrormoney-manon1116nov16,0,5612249.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN
Associated Press Writer

November 16, 2004, 5:30 PM EST

NEW YORK -- The prosecution of a sheik accused of funneling millions of dollars to al-Qaida was roiled Tuesday by news that a man who set himself on fire in front of the White House was a key witness in the case.

Defense attorneys said Mohamed Alanssi is a confidential informant central to the prosecution of Sheik Ali Hassan al-Moayad, whom U.S. authorities consider their biggest catch to date in a campaign to cut off funding for terrorists.

Al-Moayad, a leading member of an Islamic-oriented political party in Yemen, was extradited from Germany last year and is awaiting trial in federal court in Brooklyn. He and his assistant allegedly conspired to provide material support to Osama bin Laden and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas.

Alanssi sent suicide notes Monday morning to his FBI handler and a Washington Post reporter, complaining about his treatment by the government and threatening that he would burn himself in an "unexpected place."

[Beetwasher]

1. There Is So Much More Going On Here

This guy did this for a reason, he wanted to draw attention to something by making his death high profile...Just my gut instinct...We're getting a very small part of this story, I'd bet on it....

[intheflow]

2. If the guy sent his note to the WP, why is this a Newsday story?

What and why isn't the Post sharing?

[DS1]

3. Holy F*cking Sh*T!!!

As said above, somethings seriously wrong - :nuke: anyone?

[intheflow]

4. My bad. Here's the WP article with links to both letters in pdf.

WP article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51575-2004Nov15.html?nav=most_emailed

WP letter:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/documents/murphy_11-15-04.pdf

FBI letter:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/documents/fuller_11-15-04.pdf

These letters are VERY disturbing!

[Ima]

5. thanks for tha links

Its a shame they didn't bring his family here.

[knowbody0]

6. they have made his name public

i am sure his family will suffer these consequences. good going you stupid sons of demons

[meganmonkey]

7. This is becoming a habit

Individuals who play important roles in our fight against terror being exposed. It almost seems like we don't want to succeed. Isn't it the case that we haven't successfully prosecuted any terrorists in the US? While several other countries including Germany and (I think) the Netherlands have?

This is way f*cked up.

[AndyTiedye]

8. They Don't Want Any Interferance with the next MIHOP

[wickerwoman]

9. We did nail Johnnie Walker Lindh though.

Wasn't the "American Taliban" guy made a swift example of?