linked - Investigating the Terror

FD—302& (Rev II 1543)
Cotiuatio of FD-302 of ABDUL BASIT MA}fl!QTJD ABDUL KARIM On 2/72/8/95 P&e 19
Q
When questioned regarding a business card in the name
of MOHANMAD KHALIFA, found in BASIT's apartment in the
PhiIppines—BAsj stated that he did not personally know
KHALIFA, but that HALIFA's busint.ss card had been given to him
by WALl SHAH, as a contact in the event BASIT needed aid.
BASIT also acknowledged that he was familiar with the
name USAMA and knew him to be a relative of KHAL1FA's,
but wI1TötTürtner elaborate.
When BASIT was questioned regarding the types of
devices and explosives which would have been used in the plot to
bomb U.S. airlines, he refused to describe them in detail,
because others might wish to use such techniques and he did not j
want the government to have the ability to defeat them.
However, when questioned regarding the contents of some
clear plastic bottles whicrt had been recovered during the search
- of his Manila apartment, BASIT advised that those bottles
contained nitrobenzjne, which when mixed with potassium chlorate
or sodium chlorate, would make nitrobenzjne/chlorate mixture, an
explosive.
He noted, however, that a nitrobenzjne/chlorate mixture
would riot have been used in the bombing of an airliner, as it was
detectible tnroy -airport security screening. He relateu that
the explosive which he would have used could not be detected by
even the most sophisticated screening devices, which he claimed
were currently being utilized in London's HEATHROW AIRPORT and in
Bonn, Germany. BASIT maintained that he acquired his knowledge
of airport explosives screening, ircluding the new sophisticated
devices, by watching a CNN television special report which
outlined such information.
BASIT did discuss a method which he had devised of
using a CASIO electronic wrist watch as a timing device, used to
initiate an explosive. He related that, when the back of the
watch was removed, there was a small vacant space in the
interior, where an electronic part could be installed, and
connected to the watch's alarm. He noted that this created a
timer, which would be connected c a small light bulb, whose
glass had been broken. A nine volt battery would be used as a
power source for the circuit, so that when the alarm functioned,
tne circuit would close, causing the bulk's filament to get very