Mohamed Atta is known to have been in Prague on two occasions: in
December 1994, when he stayed one night at a transit hotel, and in June
2000, when he was en route to the United States. On the latter occa-
sion, he arrived by bus from Germany, on June 2, and departed for
Newark the following day.
the Czech intelligence service. Shortly after 9/11, the source reported
having seen Atta meet with Ahmad Khalil Ibrahim Samir al Ani, an Iraqi
diplomat, at the Iraqi Embassy in Prague on April 9, 2001, at 11:00
ment of the Legat and the Czech officers present was that they were 70
percent sure that the source was sincere and believed his own story of
the meeting. Subsequently, the Czech intelligence service publicly stated
that there was a 70 percent probability that the meeting between Atta
and Ani had taken place.The Czech Interior Minister also made several
statements to the press about his belief that the meeting had occurred,
and the story was widely reported.
and in Coral Springs, Florida on April 11, where he and Shehhi leased
an apartment. On April 6, 9, 10, and 11,Atta's cellular telephone was used
numerous times to call various lodging establishments in Florida from
cell sites within Florida.We cannot confirm that he placed those calls.
But there are no U.S. records indicating that Atta departed the country
during this period. Czech officials have reviewed their flight and bor-
der records as well for any indication that Atta was in the Czech Repub-
lic in April 2001, including records of anyone crossing the border who
even looked Arab.They have also reviewed pictures from the area near
the Iraqi embassy and have not discovered photos of anyone who looked
like Atta. No evidence has been found that Atta was in the Czech
Republic in April 2001.
and did not return until the afternoon of the ninth, while the source was
firm that the sighting occurred at 11:00