Czechs confirm hijacker meeting

Officials confirmed that Atta met the Iraqi spy in Prague

By Ray Furlong in Prague

Czech authorities have officially stated that Mohammed Atta - the man suspected of flying one of the planes into the World Trade Centre - was in Prague earlier this year and met an Iraqi intelligence officer.

Mohammed Atta flew on from Prague to the United States after the meeting

The Czech Interior Minister, Stanislav Gross, made the announcement at a press conference in Prague following weeks of rumours and unconfirmed reports of the meeting.

Czech officials had previously said they had no evidence of the meeting with the Iraqi spy.

It is sensitive news, given the on-going speculation about a possible Iraqi role in preparing the 11 September attacks.

Diplomat expelled

But the Czech authorities have so far not produced any evidence of Iraqi involvement beyond the fact that one meeting took place.

Mr Gross said he had no details of what was discussed between Atta and Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Samir al-Ani, an Iraqi diplomat who was expelled several weeks after the meeting for "activities incompatible with his status".

Stanislav Gross said the diplomat had been expelled

That of course is a diplomatic euphemism for spying and Mr Gross identified him as an Iraqi intelligence officer.

The Czech authorities are continuing investigations into what happened at the meeting.

The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz, was quoted recently by a London-based Arab language newspaper as denying reports of the meeting.

Mr Gross said that Mohammed Atta had also travelled to the Czech Republic by bus from Germany in June last year, before boarding a flight from there to the United States.