Alleged Terrorist's Father Denies Involvement
C A I R O, Egypt, Sept. 18 -- The father of Mohamed Atta expressed disbelief that his son could have been one of the suicide terrorists who forced a plane into the World Trade Center. Yet, in an exclusive interview with ABCNEWS, Mohamed El Amir confirmed the photograph provided by authorities was, in fact, that of his son.
Federal authorities have identified Atta as one of the alleged leaders of the terrorists who mounted a coordinated attack on U.S. targets Sept. 11.
The FBI says, unless he pulled a last-minute switch, Atta died when his plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, the culmination of more than a year and a half of meticulous planning.
But his father now claims he has talked to his son since the day of the attack. And he says that any suggestion his son was a supporter of Osama bin Laden is a lie.
"Mohamed, my son, hates Osama bin Laden like he hates the sinner. Do not forget that Osama bin Laden is behind the attack on our embassy in Pakistan. Mohamed is a real Egyptian. All this talk is nonsense," his father said.
Mohamed El Amir, the elder, in his own words:
I am the father of the engineer, Mohamed El Amir. This is the name he was known under in Germany. Mohamed Mohamed El Amir and not Mohamed Atta.
There is absolutely no link between my son and Islamic groups, neither lately nor when he was young.
Education and Career
He used to read a lot and during his vacations in Egypt, he would improve his English at the American university. After his graduation, he learned German because I had asked him to. My aim was — and I had told him in the beginning — to send him abroad for further studies. He was working here as an engineer and had a good salary.
I am the one who convinced him to learn German because it is the language of engineering in the world. I told him he could then travel to Europe, visit engineering companies, get good experience and then open an office in Egypt…
All I know is that he studied in Hamburg, Germany. I even asked him why he changed his specialty from construction engineer to urban planning and he said that he liked it. The proof is that he concentrated on the urban planning of ancient Islamic cities. His institute sent him on missions to Aleppo, Istanbul and then he headed a mission to Egypt.
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