linked - Investigating the Terror

tI—i 5—83)
ontlnuAtionofFD-302o1 ABDUL BASIT, AKA R7NZI YOUSEF ,n 2/13/95 ,Ptge 3
C
He related that the booster charges were buried in the
urea nitrate main charge. Also buried were three large cylinders
of hydrogen gas.
Concerning the nitrocellulose, which was used to
connect the detonators, BASIT described the following as his
method of manufacture for that material:
He stated that it was made by mixing 150 milliliters of
nitric acid and 250 milliliters of sulfuric acid, keeping the
temperature under 25 degrees Celsius. Seventeen grams of
hospital type cotton was then soaked in the acid, boiled in
water, and then washed until its "PH" was seven. This material
is then dried.
BASIT advised that MOHAMMED SALAMEH and NIDAL AYYAD
rented a car a few days before the WTC bombing. ASIT could only
recall that the car was red in color. BASIT stated that SALAMEH
drove this rental car, while he and another individual brought
the Ryder van carrying the explosive into the Trade Center.
YOUSEF advised that he was in the passenger seat of the van when
he lit the 12 minute fuse that was to ignite the explosive.
BASIT said that after the fuse was lit they entered the car in
which SALANEH was waiting, and departed the Trade Center. BASIT
advised that SALANEH was alone in the second car5
BASIT advised that to his knowledge, he and SAL1NEH
kept the time and target of th3 explosion a secret in order to
avoid any "leaks". BASIT advised that if MAHMOTJD ABOUHALIMA or
ABDUL RAMMAN YASIN were aware of the time or target, they only
found out a few days before it happened. BASIT advIsed that the
man who drove the van came from another state to New York to
assist BASIT in the attack. BASIT stated that this other
individual was aware that he was planning something, but BASIT
did not give him the details of his plan until he arrived in New
York. BASIT said that he first contacted this individual
sometime in November of 1992. BASIT advised that this individual
left New York the evening of February 26, 1993, on a different
-
f light than himself.
BASIT advised that he and his friend stayed in a hotel
in Brooklyn the night before the bombing, and that the van was
parked in a parking area that is used exclusively for the hotel.
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