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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,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 10, 2009 7:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – 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.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind, is seen at left after his capture in 2003 and at right this year at Guantanamo Bay.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind, is seen at left after his capture in 2003 and at right this year at Guantanamo Bay.   (AP Photo/www.muslm.net)
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has been charged with war crimes and faces the death penalty, but his military tribunal is on hiatus.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has been charged with war crimes and faces the death penalty, but his military tribunal is on hiatus.   (AP Photo/www.muslm.net)
The picture was allegedly taken in July 2009 by the International Committee of the Red Cross and released only to the detainee's family.
The picture was allegedly taken in July 2009 by the International Committee of the Red Cross and released only to the detainee's family.   (AP Photo/www.muslm.net)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
passinthru
Sep 11, 2009 5:13 AM CDT
shit i thought the other pic was osama, lol...with all that hair how the eff can you tell them apart???
Pragmaticrealism
Sep 11, 2009 2:32 AM CDT
Timi you have NO idea what you ramble about. Stick to the Jon and Kate articles.
godawgs
Sep 10, 2009 12:51 PM CDT
but i thought that they were using "torture" pics to recruit people....

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