A British convict has reportedly revealed that he was hugged and wished well by Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, before he was sent out on a planned suicide bombing mission.
According to The Daily Express, Gloucester-born Saajid Badat, 35, was about to fly to the UK with explosives hidden in his footwear when he met the 9/11 mastermind in Pakistan just two months after the World Trade Center and Pentagon terror attacks.
During the New York trial of hate preacher Abu Hamza, Badat averred that Laden believed that the American economy is like a chain and if one link was struck, the entire thing would be brought down.
Badat said that his understanding was that the link was the aviation industry.
He said that Bin Laden told him that religion was central to justify Al Qaeda goals, motions and actions, and gave him a hug and wished him well.
Badat was sentenced to jail for 15 years after his role was confirmed in the conspiracy.
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However, his sentence was cut after he agreed to testify against suspected terrorists, following which he was freed in 2010 after five years.
Badat had testified against Laden's son-in-law Sulaiman Abu Ghaith last month.