U.S. investigators have detained Dr. Al-Badr M. H. Al-Hazmi, a fifth-year radiology resident at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center (UTHSC), in connection with the September 11 attacks on the U.S., according to UTHSC president Dr. Francisco Cigarroa.
An Associated Press story dated September 18 quoted an unnamed U.S. official as saying Dr. Al-Hazmi (Alhazmi) is being held in New York for questioning. And according to a story in Tuesday's USA Today, a federal official said Al-Hazmi is being held as a "material witness" in the hijackings. However, the FBI press office cited a blanket policy against releasing information relating to any of the 47 witnesses being held as of Tuesday, and declined to confirm the reports to AuntMinnie.com.
According to the UTHSC in San Antonio, Al-Hazmi, 34, went through normal enrollment procedures to become a radiology resident in July 1997, and has been in good standing since his arrival.
Al-Hazmi was last seen by center officials at a radiology conference September 10, the UTHSC said. He was on routine assignment that week for a radiology rotation at Wilford Hall but did not report for duty.
The FBI arrived at the center September 12 to inquire about Al-Hazmi, according to UTHSC. The agency copied information from the files and returned on September 15 to take a public computer used at the main library.
The USA Today story also said a computer in Al-Hazmi's home had been seized, and that university officials were stunned to learn that the "mild-mannered" resident had been arrested.
According to UTHSC documents obtained by AuntMinnie.com, Al-Hazmi received his medical degree from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1991. He began his residency in 1997 as an employee of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company. The firm had promised to pay for Al-Hazmi's residency, and to continue his employment as a specialist upon its completion.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
September 18, 2001
Copyright © 2001 AuntMinnie.com
