'20th hijacker' in custody?

Authorities in Minneapolis have arrested a suspected al-Qaida operative under a shroud of secrecy.

A law-enforcement official told the Minneapolis Star Tribune the unnamed man is said to have knowledge of some of the activities of Zacarias Moussaoui, who was indicted Dec. 11, 2001, on six conspiracy counts for allegedly joining in a plot to hijack and crash U.S. jetliners.

According to the official, the detainee has confirmed some of investigators' suspicions about Moussaoui, who was arrested while learning to fly a Boeing 747 jet at an Eagan, Minn., flight school just prior to Sept. 11, 2001, when he was arrested for immigration violations. He aroused suspicion because, like the Sept. 11 hijackers, he seemed only interested in learning take-offs, not landings.

The official, who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity, said members of the FBI's local Joint Terrorism Task Force made the arrest yesterday following a lengthy investigation. The suspect was brought before U.S. Magistrate Judge Earl Cudd, but the proceedings were sealed. The detainee's identity was also kept off the public roster of inmates at the Hennepin County jail.

TRENDING: Public school has failed American kids: Student with 0.13 GPA ranks near top half of class

Suspected 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was captured earlier this year, reportedly told interrogators that Moussaoui was not the intended "20th hijacker" as investigators originally theorized, but rather was training to participate in a second-wave attack.

Moussaoui claims he had no role in the Sept. 11 attacks and sought to take videotaped depositions from Mohammed and two other al-Qaida captives to use in his defense.

Federal prosecutors blocked the request, which prompted the district judge to rule out the death penalty in the event of a conviction. Federal prosecutors have appealed the decision.

In the meantime, recent published reports indicate the FBI has identified the man intended to be the 20th hijacker.

The Star Tribune was unable to glean from its source whether yesterday's arrest is related to the revelation.

SPECIAL OFFER!

Only 3 days left to get Savage by Christmas!

Order now, get 'The Enemy Within' autographed, plus Dec. 25 delivery