Saudi Convicted of Lying About Knowing Hijacker

A Saudi man was convicted Thursday of lying to the FBI when he denied knowing one of the Sept. 11 hijackers.

Faisal Al Salmi repeatedly denied knowing Hani Hanjour, one of the terrorists aboard the plane that hit the Pentagon, during a series of interviews on Sept. 18 and Sept. 19, prosecutors said.

Al Salmi, 34, was the first person convicted on charges connecting him to the hijackers. He was not charged with terrorism.

Al Salmi, who came to the United States from Saudi Arabia on a student visa in 1997, could receive up to six months behind bars when he is sentenced April 29. Al Salmi has been in custody since Sept. 21.

Prosecutors said Al Salmi and Hanjour were registered at the same time to use a flight simulator that was open to the public at a Phoenix flight school.

Several FBI agents testified during Al Salmi’s trial that he had changed his story during the interviews, eventually acknowledging he had met Hanjour on different occasions.

During closing arguments Thursday, Sexton said Al Salmi was even deceptive when he eventually acknowledged meeting Hanjour.

Al Salmi told authorities he met Hanjour twice at a Phoenix area mosque. But the two were also seen together at a store in suburban Scottsdale last summer.

Al Salmi’s attorney, Gerald Williams, didn’t deny his client and Hanjour had met, but told jurors there was a difference between meeting people and knowing them.