Moussaoui denied access to aviation data

Moussaoui is the first person to be charged over the 11 September attacks

A US judge has ruled that Zacarias Moussaoui, the French citizen facing charges of conspiracy over the 11 September terror attacks, will not be allowed to see any sensitive aviation security information during his trial.

US District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema issued the order amid fears that he might pass any information he saw on security and screening procedures on to potential terrorists.

If the defendant were allowed access to these materials, they could be disseminated to others intent on attacking civil aviation

Judge Leonie Brinkema

As they prepare their defence, Mr Moussaoui's lawyers had asked for airport procedure manuals for screening passengers and photographs and video pictures from the airports used by the 11 September hijackers.

But prosecutors successfully argued that the information was on the same level as national security information and the release of it would be "detrimental to the safety of passengers in transportation".

Conspiracy claims

Accused of being the 9/11 20th hijacker, Mr Moussaoui has been indicted on six counts of conspiring with Osama Bin Laden, the hijackers and others to commit the attacks on the US.

So far he is the only person to have been charged in connection with the attacks in which about 3,000 people were killed.

He could face the death penalty if convicted.

In April, Mr Moussaoui said that he wanted to fire his court-appointed lawyers, claiming that they were part of a conspiracy between the US government and the judge to kill him.

Moussaoui is due to go on trial in October

The prosecutors argued that even if Mr Moussaoui defended himself he should be denied access to all information categorised as Sensitive Security Information.

Ms Brinkema agreed saying, "disclosure of these materials to defendant in this case could unacceptably increase the risk to the travelling public".

Mr Moussaoui's lawyers are forbidden from passing him any printed information on aviation security and screening procedures or telling him about it in private.

Aiding terrorists

"Certain of these documents contain information on security counter-measures which might assist a potential hijacker or terrorist in circumventing aviation security procedures intended to protect the travelling public," she said.

"If the defendant were allowed access to these materials, they could be disseminated to others intent on attacking civil aviation".

Ms Brinkema's decision represents the first time Mr Moussaoui has been barred from obtaining information to conduct his defence.

Ms Brinkema also denied a request by Mr Moussaoui's attorneys that a hearing on whether he is mentally competent to defend himself be held in private.

The judge ordered psychiatric evaluations on the suspect and scheduled the competency hearing for Thursday.