Moussaoui says he knew about 9/11 attacks

Al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui confessed yesterday that he and would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid planned to hijack an airplane and crash it into the White House during the 9/11 attacks.

When he was originally arrested, Moussaoui told investigators that he had no involvement with the events of 9/11.

Instead, he said he was taking pilot lessons so he could fly a plane into the White House if the United States didn’t release a radical Egyptian shiek from prison.

During his testimony, however, prosecutor Rob Spencer asked Moussaoui, “You knew on Aug. 16 that other al-Qaida members were in the United States?”

“That’s correct,” Moussaoui replied, according to The Associated Press.

Spencer asked: “You knew there was a pending plot?”

“That’s correct,” Moussaoui replied.

Spencer asked: “You lied because you wanted to conceal that you were a member of al-Qaida?”

“That’s correct,” Moussaoui replied.

Spencer asked: “You lied so the plan could go forward?”

“That’s correct,” Moussaoui replied.

To get the death penalty, prosecutors had to prove that he deliberately lied about his knowledge of terrorist activity so that the 9/11 attacks could go forward as planned, causing the deaths of nearly 3,000 people.

Moussaoui’s testimony yesterday essentially seals his fate, as he admitted to the very charges brought against him.

Before testifying, Moussaoui’s defense attorney argued that any oath he took not to perjure himself would be moot because he only believes in Islamic law.

-Compiled by City Editor Sam Hodgson