Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Changed his story

Terrorist recruit Khwaja Hasan changed his story somewhat when he testified in front of the jury this afternoon - this time, he said directly that viewing a web site about the Chechnyan conflict and watching the graphic video "Russian Hell 2000" more than a year beforehand were part of the reason he went to a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.

"Were the Qoqaz news reports and the video of Russian Hell 2000 part of the reason that you went to the ... camp?" prosecutor David Deitch asked Hasan. "Yes," Hasan replied.

However, on cross-examination, Hasan repeated that he went to the camp at the urging of a trusted Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ali Al-Timimi, at a meeting shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. "What happened in September, the meeting, was the final part of me deciding to go," he said.

"It was your personal relationship with the cleric, your personal relationship with a very, very persuasive man, yes?" asked defense attorney David Nevin. "I would say that, yes," Hasan replied.

The 28-year-old Virginia man also acknowledged that he hopes for a reduction in his 11-year, three-month prison sentence in exchange for his testimony against Sami Omar Al-Hussayen. Al-Hussayen is charged with aiding terrorists, in part by operating and maintaining various Islamic web sites.

Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.