Alleged hijacker used computers at LV’s Cyber Zone

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2001 | 9:41 a.m.

FBI agents have confirmed that at least one suspected hijacker and possible others gained access to the Worldwide Web at the Cyber Zone on South Maryland Parkway prior to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Agents made copies of the hard drives of 10 computers at the Cyber Zone, which is across from UNLV, days after the attacks and sent them to be analyzed at the FBI's lab in Washington.

Among those using the computers, agents believe, was Mohamed Atta, who is reported to have commandeered American Airlines Flight 11 into the north tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

Atta, a 33-year-old urban planner from Egypt, stayed at the Econo Lodge, 1150 S. Las Vegas Blvd., in late June and mid-August. He is one of five suspected hijackers the FBI has confirmed visited Las Vegas in the weeks leading up to the attacks.

Investigators said this morning that Cyber Zone development is crucial to their efforts to track the movements of the hijackers in Las Vegas.

The prevailing theory among lawmen is that the men were here to plan the attacks.

"This is probably the most critical lead we've uncovered so far," one investigator said. "It has the most potential. It's the most interesting."

Agents are hoping the hard drives will give them additional answers to what the suspected hijackers were doing here.

Were they doing research? Or were they communicating with other possible conspirators?

One investigator suggested it was possible the men could have been practicing on flight simulator programs over the Internet.

Several of the suspected hijackers who visited Las Vegas are believed to have piloted the four American jetliners used in the attacks.