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New Photo of 9/11 Mastermind Used to Spur Jihad
Red Cross photo of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed hits net
By Jason Farago
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Posted Sep 10, 09 7:30 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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The family of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed released new photos of the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and they've been showing up on sites used by al-Qaeda sympathizers to recruit terrorists. The images, taken by the Red Cross as part of its monitoring of Guantanamo Bay prisoners, are the first pictures to emerge since the iconic 2003 shot of him with disheveled hair and stubble where he now sports a full beard.
The Red Cross photographed 107 inmates, allowing them to select two shots to be sent to their families, accompanied by personal messages. They were not intended for public release, but no conditions were given to the family. Mohammed faces the death penalty if convicted by the military tribunal, but proceedings have been suspended since Barack Obama took office. One counterterrorism expert said she first saw the photographs online last week, and that they have since "gone viral" with messages attached. "'We'll come and get you' is one message that I saw," she tells the Guardian.