American intelligence sources on Saturday claimed that the Osama bin Laden-led Al Qaeda organization's military leader, Mohammed Atef, was the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks in Washington and New York.
As cited in news agency reports, the sources said that Mohammed Atef, whose service with the Egyptian police had been terminated, joined the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group and helped bin Laden in recruiting Arab Mujahideen, or fighters, for the Afghan war against Soviet forces during the 1980s.
According to analysts, Mohammed Atef is expected to take over leadership of the Al Qaeda organization should bin Laden be killed - Albawaba.com
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