M A I N   N E W S

25 detained for attacks on USA

Washington, September 16
Twentyfive persons have been detained in connection with this week’s deadly attacks on New York’s twin World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, just outside Washington, a Justice Department official said.

“A total of 25 are still detained. They have been questioned at least once by the FBI,” spokeswoman Mindy Tucker told a press briefing here yesterday.

She said the 25 would face further questioning but gave no details on their identity or on where they were arrested.

Meanwhile, the spokeswoman said two arrest warrants were issued over the past 24 hours against two persons in New York seen as possible key witnesses in the probe of Tuesday’s deadly hijacked plane attack against the World Trade Center.

Attorney-General John Ashcroft confirmed on Friday that authorities were still seeking more than 100 persons suspected of involvement in Tuesday’s attacks. AFP

Another man held for attacks

Washington, September 16
The US authorities have arrested a second man in connection with the devastating attacks on the New York World Trade Center and the Pentagon, US media reported today.

The arrested man was among a group of 25 persons detained and questioned by the FBI in the past three days, the US Justice Department said.

Two men have now been charged as “material witnesses” in connection with last Tuesday’s attacks, according to CNN and The Washington Post.

Spokeswoman Mindy Tucker said she expected more arrest warrants to be issued soon. “We are at a point where there will be additional and more frequent warrants,” she was quoted as saying in The Washington Post. AFP

Hijacker ‘still missing’

Beirut, September 16
The family of a Lebanese man who is believed to be one of the 19 suspects who carried out the suicide attacks in the USA said today they still considered their son as “missing”. The uncle of Ziad Samir Jarrah, Jamal, told journalists who gathered at the family house in Marj, “We still consider him missing.” DPA