Feds say Padilla may have been higher in Al Qaeda

May 25, 2006 (Last Updated: 8:23:47 PM) (WLS) -- Federal investigators say they have evidence that former Chicago street gang member Jose Padilla was a higher ranking member of Al Qaeda than first thought.

Four years ago this month when Jose Padilla was arrested at O'Hare Airport, federal agents considered him a Chicago street gang member who had been recruited by Al Qaeda terrorists to scout potential American targets, but now U.S. prosecutors believe Padilla was operating at a much higher level than just an advance man for Al Qaeda.

Jose Padilla was not just a Chicago street gang stooge as some in law enforcement portrayed him at the time of his arrest. Federal authorities say evidence now shows that Padilla had had risen in Al Qaeda's ranks to have personal relationships with the top planners of the September 11th attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.

Padilla has told authorities that his direct Al Qaeda supervisor was Ammar al-Baluchi who obtained flight simulators that the 9/11 hijackers used in training. According to Padilla, Baluchi was the right-hand man of Khalid Sheihk Mohammed---considered the architect of the 9/11 attacks.

In documents filed during the recent death penalty hearing for Al Qaeda terrorist Zacharias Moussaoui, Moussaoui described Baluci as a "key travel and financial facilitator for the Sept. 11 hijackers."

Padilla's connection to Al Qaeda provided his marching orders as well. Federal agents say Padilla has told them that Baluchi gave him $10,000 cash before flying from the Middle East to O'Hare, provided travel documents, gave him a U.S. cell phone and an email address to notify Al Qaeda operatives of his arrival in Chicago.

But authorities say Padilla's connection to the upper crust of Al Qaeda is best found in his activities with three of the organization's top terrorists. The night before leaving for Chicago they threw him a bon voyage dinner -- hosted by the men considered to be the 9/11 masterminds.

Baluchi, a native of Pakistan, was himself arrested in April of 2003. He has used several aliases, including Ali Abdul Aziz Ali; Habib; Mustafa; and "Losh." His bombing targets were to be east coast gas stations.

Baluchi is believed to be held by the U.S. military at Quantanomo, Cuba.

Padilla was originally held by the military as an enemy combatant. He has since been charged criminally and is at the federal lockup in Miami.

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