Terrorism timeline

Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004 | 11:13 a.m.

Alleged members of a European al-Qaida cell shoot footage of Las Vegas casinos including the MGM Grand, Excalibur and New York-New York. This footage becomes known as the Spanish tape when Spanish authorities retrieve it from suspected terrorists in Spain.

Juveniles being chaperoned by an adult shoot footage of the MGM Grand, Excalibur and New York-New York, as well as Disneyland and New York City. This tape is recovered by FBI agents in a Detroit apartment when they arrest the suspected members of the Detroit Terror cell.

Local FBI officials review the videotape found in possession of the Detroit Terror cell with representatives from the casinos shown on the tape and Metro Police.

Local FBI officials review the videotape recovered by Spanish authorities from alleged members of a European al-Qaida cell with representatives from the casinos shown in the tape and Metro Police.

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Paul George flys to Las Vegas to meet with local law enforcement as he continues his investigation in support of the pending Detroit terror trial.

Key government witness Yousseff Hmimssa testifies that he heard members of the Detroit cell talking about attacking Las Vegas, calling it the, "City of Satan." Local authorities, including Sheriff Bill young demand to know why they weren't informed of Hmimssa's testimony by Detroit prosecutors.

While visiting Washington D.C. Young receives a face-to-face apology from FBI director Robert Mueller for federal authorities' failure to notify him about Hmimssa's testimony. Young said that Mueller told him, "You're probably sick of hearing this, but I'm going to apologize again that the information did not get passed on. It shouldn't have happened."

archive