Maryland State Police release tape of hijacker's traffic stop two days before terror attacks

<br>PIKESVILLE, Md. (AP) _ A videotape of one of the Sept. 11 hijackers being pulled over for speeding two days before the attacks was released Tuesday by Maryland State Police, who said there were ``no

Tuesday, January 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PIKESVILLE, Md. (AP) _ A videotape of one of the Sept. 11 hijackers being pulled over for speeding two days before the attacks was released Tuesday by Maryland State Police, who said there were ``no red flags'' to justify detaining the man.

Ziad S. Jarrah was ``extremely calm and cooperative'' during the stop, and Trooper Joseph Catalano saw no reason to keep him, said Col. David B. Mitchell, the superintendent of state police.

``There were no circumstances to question the gentleman more than we did,'' Mitchell said.

On the tape, Catalano can be seen telling Jarrah he was pulled over for going 90 mph in a 65 mph zone. After a few minutes, Catalano returns and tells Jarrah the fine is $270, gives him a few instructions on how to pay the fine and tells him he is free to go. Jarrah is never seen in the tape.

``No red flags at all,'' Catalano said. ``It was a routine traffic stop.''

FBI agent Michael Clemens said Jarrah was not on any federal lists of suspected terrorists at the time of the stop.

Jarrah, identified as one of the four hijackers on United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania, had a valid visa, Clemens said. Mitchell also said Jarrah had a valid Virginia driver's license.