"TIME Exclusive: Cropduster Manual Discovered
in Suspected Terrorist Hideout
Sources tell TIME that U.S. officials suspect that bin Laden conspirators may
have been planning to disperse biological or chemical agents from cropdusting
planes
BY MASSIMO CALABRESI AND SALLY DONNELLY
Saturday, Sep. 22, 2001
New York -- U.S. law enforcement officials have found a manual on the
operation of cropdusting equipment while searching suspected terrorist
hideouts, government sources tell TIME magazine in an issue out on
Monday, Sept. 24th.
The discovery has added to concerns among government counterterrorism
experts that the bin Laden conspirators may have been planning — or may still
be planning —to disperse biological or chemical agents from a cropdusting plane
normally used for agricultural purposes.
Among the belongings of suspected terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui, sources tell
TIME, were manuals showing how to operate cropdusting equipment that could
be used to spray fast-killing toxins into the air.
The discovery resulted in the grounding of all cropdusters nationwide on Sunday
Sept. 16th. The dusters have been allowed back up, but are not allowed to take
off or land from what traffic controllers refer to as Class B airspace, or the
skies around major cities.
One senior official cautions that because corroborative evidence is lacking the
FBI does not place "high credibility" in the notion that the hijackers were in fact
exploring the idea of stealing or renting cropdusters. However, the FBI is
advising members of a crop-dusters' group to report any suspicious buys of
dangerous chemicals in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks.
Last week, the National Agricultural Aviation Association, a crop dusters trade
group, posted a message from the FBI to its membership: "Members should be
vigilant to any suspicious activity relative to the use, training in or acquisition of
dangerous chemicals or airborne application of same including threats, unusual
purchases, suspicious behavior by employees or customers, and unusual contacts
with the public. Members should report any suspicious circumstances or
information to local FBI offices."
—With reporting by Elaine Shannon/Washington"
time.com |
