Mahmoud Mahmoud Atta
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Mahmoud Mahmoud Atta (Arabic: محمود محمود عطى ) (born 1954) is (or was) a Jordanian militant who was responsible for bombing a bus in 1986 on the Israel-controlled West Bank, killing one and severely injuring three.
A naturalized US citizen, he was subsequently deported from Venezuela to the United States, extradited to Israel in 1990, tried and sentenced to life in prison.[1] The Israeli supreme court later invalidated his extradition and set him free.[citation needed]
Following the September 11, 2001 Attacks in the United States it was initially thought that Mahmoud Mahmoud Atta was one of the hijackers on board the first plane to hit the World Trade Center.[2] This led to the harsh questioning of US immigration authorities and the intelligence community, because it was felt that they had failed to stop a known terrorist from entering the country under his true name. However his identity was confused with the Egyptian militant leader Mohammed Atta who was actually on board the flight.[2]
Mahmoud Mahmoud Atta's current whereabouts are unknown.
[edit] References
- ^ Jerusalem Post: Internet rumors aside, WTC attacker not held by Israel, November 8, 2001
- ^ a b Anti-Defamation League: A Case of Mistaken Identity: Mohammad Atta Not Linked to Bus Bombing, 2001
