Todd Beamer's Cell Phone

A couple of people have e-mailed me now about the item linked below, so I thought I would just save us all some time and briefly post my thoughts about the issues it raises.

This 9/29/2001 FBI lead sheet details phone calls made in relation to the cell phone of Todd Beamer, a passenger on United 93, the airplane hijacked on September 11 that crashed in Pennsylvania. Beamer is famously remembered for reporting that the passengers were planning to storm the cockpit and for issuing the call to that action: "Let's roll."

Todd Beamer cell phone log

The document is confusing. At first glance it appears to list calls that were made by Beamer using the cell phone. What raised questions with my correspondents is the fact that the log shows almost 20 calls after United 93 crashed. All of the calls related to a number in Woodbridge, NJ, and all of them are listed as exactly one minute (suggesting the call was not completed).

My best guess here is that the log represents calls to Beamer's cell, in which case the post-crash calls might have been someone with the phone company or the government pinging to locate the phone in the wreckage, or frantic calls from a friend or family member who was trying to ascertain whether Beamer had been on the flight. The latter theory might make more sense, since the calls start pretty early.

More confusingly, there is a call shortly before the flight took off listed as an "incoming call" with the "number called" being the same number that the document identifies as Beamer's cell phone. (This could be a call to listen to voicemail, or a call to voicemail paired with using the "reply to message" function that most voicemail offers.)

Even if you're of a conspiratorial bent on this issue (which I am not), it's difficult to believe the FBI would release a document showing that Beamer's cell phone was in use after the crash. The 9/11 Commission cites the document but doesn't comment on the post-crash entries.

I'm open to hearing an explanation. If you have actual and specific knowledge of how to read this document, feel free to drop me a line and I'll update this posting.

If you're just guessing, well, you're welcome to speculate and/or investigate-and-publish away, but this post represents the sum total of my insight on the document at this time, and I don't currently have a lot of time to devote to this (either in terms of investigating further or debating it via e-mail). If I get better information, I will post it here. Happy hunting...

Labels: 9-11, Todd-Beamer, United-93

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

9/11 Commission, FBI Source Documents, Chronological, September 13-30, 2001

FD-302 reports listed here are interviews of the person named, except as noted.

9/13/2001: FBI FD-302, Winston Courtney Sadler

9/14/2001: FBI FD-302, Joseph Deluca

9/14/2001: FBI FD-302, Joseph Deluca (second version)

9/14/2001: FBI FD-302, Lori Lynn Keyton

9/14/2001: FBI FD-302, Michael Woodward

9/14/2001: FBI FD-302, Michael Woodward (second version)

9/14/2001: FBI FD-302, Office of Ted Olsen

9/14/2001: FBI FD-302, Office of Ted Olsen (second version)

9/14/2001: FBI FD-302, Office of Ted Olsen (third version)

9/14/2001: FBI, Investigation of Lauren Grandcolas Voicemail

9/14/2001: FBI, Investigation of Lauren Grandcolas Voicemail

9/15/2001: FBI FD-302, Anwar Aulaqi

9/15/2001: FBI FD-302, Khaled Alkayed

9/15/2001: FBI FD-302, re: Omer Bakarbashat

9/15/2001: FBI FD-302, Philip M. Rosenzweig

9/15/2001: FBI FD-302, Jennifer L. Stangel

9/16/2001: FBI FD-302, Craig Marquis

9/16/2001: FBI FD-302, George Harb

9/16/2001: FBI FD-302, Ivan Chirivella

9/16/2001: FBI FD-302, Ivan Chirivella (second version)

9/15/2001: FBI FD-302, Marion Britton

9/15/2001: FBI FD-302, Rayed Mohammed Abdullah

9/15/2001: FBI Bulletin, information on Hani Hanjour and Nawaf Al-Hazmi in Phoenix

9/17/2001: FBI FD-302, Amro Abdelazim Hassan

9/17/2001: FBI FD-302, James Charles McRae

9/17/2001: FBI FD-302, Omer Bakarbashat (two versions)

9/17/2001: FBI Transcript of emergency call

9/17/2001: FBI translated interview, Aysel Senguen (girlfriend of Ziad Jarrah)

9/19/2001: FBI FD-302, Anwar Aulaqi

9/19/2001: FBI FD-302, Jimi Nouri

9/19/2001: FBI FD-302, Mark Kendall Bingham

9/19/2001: FBI FD-302, Mark Kendall Bingham (two versions)

9/20/2001: FBI Information on British individuals arrested in connection with 9/11

9/20/2001: FBI Information on e-mail related to emergency call, 9/11

9/20/2001: FBI FD-302, Unidentified person re: Marion Britton

9/21/2001: FBI FD-302, Gail Jawahir

9/21/2001: FBI FD-302, UI person re: Madeline Sweeney

9/22/2001: FBI FD-302, Modhar Mohamed Abdullah

9/22/2001: FBI FD-302, Mourad Jdaini

9/22/2001: FBI FD-302, re: Todd Beamer

9/22/2001: FBI Information re: Todd Beamer

9/22/2001: FBI Information re: Marion Britton

9/23/2001: FBI FD-302, Mark Kendall Bingham

9/24/2001: FBI FD-302, Interview with Confidential Informant

9/25/2001: FBI FD-302, re: Lauren Grandcolas

9/25/2001: FBI FD-302, re: Lauren Grandcolas (second version)

9/26/2001: FBI Letterhead Memorandum re: Anwar Aulaqi

9/28/2001: FBI FD-302, Gail Jawahir

9/28/2001: FBI FD-302, Gail Jawahir (second version)

9/28/2001: FBI FD-302, Louise Sweeney

9/28/2001: FBI FD-302, Louise Sweeney (second version)

9/29/2001: FBI FD-302, information on Todd Beamer phone calls

9/30/2001: FBI FD-302, re: Linda Gronlund

9/2001: FBI transcript of victim voicemail message

Labels: 9-11

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9/11 Commission, FBI Source Documents, Chronological, September 12, 2001

Note: There are multiple entries with phone calls from the same flights. Unless otherwise noted, each of these documents is a separate report.

9/12/2001: FBI Communication, American 77 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, American 11 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, American 11 Phone Call, Betty Ong

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, Transcript, American 11, Betty Ong Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, Transcript, American 11, Betty Ong Call, Second Version

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, Transcript, American 11, Betty Ong Call, Third Version

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, Topic Redacted

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, American 11 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, American 11 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI FD-302, United 93 Phone Call

9/12/2001: FBI Summary/Timeline, Events of September 11

Labels: 9-11, Hijackers, Victims

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9/11 Commission, FBI Source Documents, Chronological, September 11, 2001

9/11/2001: FD-302, phone call to air traffic control

9/11/2001: Betty Ong, air traffic control, phone call transcript

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Deena Lynne Burnett (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Lee Hanson (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Lee Hanson (name redacted version) (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Lisa Jefferson (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Lisa Jefferson Beamer (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Philip G. Bradshaw (redacted)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Philip G. Bradshaw (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Theodore Olsen (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Theodore Olsen (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Unidentified Person re: Todd Beamer call

Interview with Unidentified Person re: Todd Beamer call

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Unidentified Persons (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Unidentified Person (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: FD-302, Interview with Unidentified Person (re: phone call from hijacked flight)

9/11/2001: Record of telephone calls with airline employees

Labels: 9-11, Hijackers, Victims

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

9/12/2001: FBI Chicago, timeline of investigation, Sept. 11-12, 2001

This fascinating eight-page document outlines the FBI Chicago field office's first impression of what constituted "significant" developments in the first 30 hours after the 9/11 attacks. starting at 8:45 a.m. on September 11, when the first hijacking was reported to the FBI.

A meeting of federal, state and local agencies was held out of the FBI's Chicago command post at 11:45 a.m., including representatives from the U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, ATF, INS, Customs, the post office and the Defense Department.

The FBI in Chicago obtained the flight manifests for United Flight 175 and Flight 93 at 10:59 a.m. The investigators noted: "5 Muslim names on UA fL 93 manifest, 6 Muslim
names on UA FL 175 manifest."

Much of the document describes a flurry of calls from Americans panicked over what they believed to be suspicious activity regarding Muslims, including some that are clearly meritless. Nevertheless, the document illustrates the difficulty faced by investigators in the first few hours, when information was flooding in and leads had to be processed in the midst of a crisis. Some examples:

 

2001-09-15: FBI FD-302, Interrogation of Anwar Aulaqi

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the FBI "now" believes radical imam Anwar Aulaqi -- who befriended 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi -- knowingly aided Al Qaeda. The investigative background for this belief was substantial and isn't exactly new. INTELWIRE has obtained several FBI investigative documents related to Aulaqi, including the document linked below:

9/15/2001: FBI FD-302, Interrogation of Anwar Aulaqi

Labels: 9-11, Anwar-Aulaqi, Bayoumi, Dar-El-Hijra, Hazmi, Hijackers, Midhar

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

2001-10-03: FBI Communication, PENTBOMB, Omar Al Bayoumi

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the FBI "now" believes radical imam Anwar Aulaqi -- who befriended 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi -- knowingly aided Al Qaeda. The investigative background for this belief was substantial and isn't exactly new. INTELWIRE has obtained several FBI investigative documents related to Aulaqi, including the document linked below:

10/3/2001: FBI Communication, PENTBOMB, Omar Al Bayoumi

Labels: 9-11, Anwar-Aulaqi, Bayoumi, Hazmi, Hijackers, Midhar

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

2001-10-23: FBI Communication, Anwar Aulaqi, Dar El Hijra mosque

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the FBI "now" believes radical imam Anwar Aulaqi -- who befriended 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi -- knowingly aided Al Qaeda. The investigative background for this belief was substantial and isn't exactly new. INTELWIRE has obtained several FBI investigative documents related to Aulaqi, including the document linked below:

10/23/2001: FBI Communication, Anwar Aulaqi, Dar El Hijra mosque

Labels: 9-11, Anwar-Aulaqi, Dar-El-Hijra, Hazmi, Hijackers, Midhar

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

2001-10-03: FBI Status of Investigation, Omar Al Bayoumi

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the FBI "now" believes radical imam Anwar Aulaqi -- who befriended 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi -- knowingly aided Al Qaeda. The investigative background for this belief was substantial and isn't exactly new. INTELWIRE has obtained several FBI investigative documents related to Aulaqi, including the document linked below:

10/3/2001: FBI Status of Investigation, Omar Al Bayoumi

Labels: 9-11, Anwar-Aulaqi, Bayoumi, Hazmi, Hijackers, Midhar

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

2001-09-26: FBI Letterhead Memorandum, Anwar Aulaqi

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the FBI "now" believes radical imam Anwar Aulaqi -- who befriended 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi -- knowingly aided Al Qaeda. The investigative background for this belief was substantial and isn't exactly new. INTELWIRE has obtained several FBI investigative documents related to Aulaqi, including the document linked below:

9/26/2001: FBI Letterhead Memorandum, Anwar Aulaqi

Labels: 9-11, Anwar-Aulaqi, Bayoumi, Dar-El-Hijra, Hazmi, Hijackers, Midhar

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

9/11 Commission, FBI Source Documents, Chronological, January through September 11, 2001

1/4/2001: Summary of meeting with Yemeni officials, re: Cole Bombing

1/10/2001: Communication, photo book for witnesses, re: Cole Bombing

1/16/2001: Communication, sensitive source, Pakistan

1/31/2001: FD-302, interrogation of Fahd Al Quso (Cole Bombing)

2/3/2001: FD-302, interrogation of Fahd Al Quso (Cole Bombing)

3/19/2001: FD-302, interrogation of confidential source (proffer agreement)

3/19/2001: FD-302, interrogation of confidential source (proffer agreement)

4/13/2001: Bulletin, attacks planned by Al Qaeda, Abu Zubaidah

5/7/2001: FBI "Daily UBL/Radical Fundamentalist Threat Update" (threat to New York from walk-in informant)

6/22/2001: FBI "Daily UBL/Radical Fundamentalist Threat Update" (possible near-term strike on U.S. interests)

7/2/2001: FBI National Threat Warning, Terrorism (chatter, possible attacks abroad)

7/16/2001 to 8/1/2001: Terrorism threats

7/16/2001: Protective Services Working Group, briefing with Michael Rolince

7/20/2001: FBI "Daily UBL/Radical Fundamentalist Threat Update" (includes references to Bojinka, Abdul Hakim Murad)

8/1/2001: FBI "Daily UBL/Radical Fundamentalist Threat Update" (threat from walk-in informant, "red mercury")

7/2/2001: FBI National Threat Warning, Terrorism (anniversary of East African embassy bombings

Labels: 9-11, Cole-Bombing, East-African-Embassy-Bombings

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

2003-07-18: FBI Report on Conflict Diamonds and Al Qaeda

The FBI wrote this lengthy report to rebut claims that al Qaeda was linked to the conflict diamond trade. Two versions were provided to INTELWIRE, each is differently redacted. Neither version of this report has previously seen the light of day, to my knowledge, so it's an important release.

2003-07-18: FBI Report on Conflict Diamonds and Al Qaeda

2003-07-18: FBI Report on Conflict Diamonds and Al Qaeda

Labels: conflict-diamonds

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2002-02-19: FBI Request For Information, Lotfi Raissi, Hani Hanjour

Lotfi Raissi, an Algerian living in the U.K. has been the subject of a great deal of media coverage after being accused and subsequently exonerated of involement in the 9/11 attacks. This document, and others released to INTELWIRE under the Freedom of Information Act, outlines some of the reasons the FBI originally became interested in Raissi.

2002-02-19: FBI Request For Information, Lotfi Raissi, Hani Hanjour

Labels: 9-11, Flight-Schools, Hijackers, Raissi

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

2002-04-15: FBI Letterhead Memorandum, Omar Al Bayoumi Contacts With Saudi Government

This FBI memo details the phone records of Omar Al Bayoumi, a Saudi citizen who assisted hijackers Khalid Al-Midhar and Nawaf Al-Hazmi in relocating to San Diego in early 2000. Bayoumi helped them find an apartment and pay their rent and introduced them to people in the local community.

Bayoumi also kept in close contact with his apparent employer, the Saudi government. The exact nature of Bayoumi's employment has remained unclear, but his close associates suspected him of being a Saudi intelligence officer.

According to the memo, local mosque members "believed there was always a covert employee of the Saudi Arabian government stationed at the mosque," and that Bayoumi may have been that person.

Bayoumi was "employed by the Saudi government to monitor the activities of Saudi dissidents that resided in the U.S.," the memo states, according to "a prominent Islamic leader in San Diego."

Other FBI interviewees said Bayoumi was "an employee of the Saudi Arabian Government (who) traveled to mosques throughout the world to monitor and observe Saudi citizens for signs of dissident behavior."

Another source said Bayoumi "was connected with a Saudi Arabian company that is equivalent to the Federal Aviation Administration," and said he was paid $5,000 a month to be a student.

The memo below details Bayoumi's phone contacts with the Saudi government over slightly less than two months in 2000, around the time the hijackers arrived in San Diego. Phone records revealed Bayoumi called local Saudi officials, including the consulate in San Diego, 34 times. He called Saudi officials in Washington D.C. 141 times in the same period, according to the memo -- more than twice a day on average.

Calls appear to be directed to the Saudi Cultural Mission, the Saudi Education Mission, the Saudi Embassy in Washington, the Saudi Consulate in San Diego, the Saudi National Guard, and the Saudi Islamic Affairs Department.

Although the notation is unclear due to FBI redactions, it also appears Bayoumi called a U.S. Department of State diplomat.

Extensive portions of the document were redacted by the FBI, including substantial portions of FBI interviews with Saudi government officials who had contact with Bayoumi.

2002-04-15: FBI Letterhead Memorandum, Omar Al Bayoumi Contacts With Saudi Government

Labels: 9-11, Bayoumi, Hazmi, Midhar, Saudi-Arabia

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink

 

11/14/2003: FBI Hijackers Chronology

Those researching the 9/11 attacks will find few documents more useful than the FBI's painstaking chronology of the hijacker's activities.

Starting with their birth, this 2003 timeline traces every documented movement of the 19 hijackers all the way through September 11.

Much of the document is redacted, and the amount of detail increases exponentially after the hijackers entered the U.S. -- scaling down to the level of individual ATM transactions. Even with its limitations and redactions, however, this is a priceless research aid.

11/14/2003: FBI Chronology of Hijacker's Movements

(Note: This is a large file.)

Labels: 9-11, Hijackers

Posted by J.M. Berger | Permalink