Photo Gallery Assessing the Terror Threat
Detainee cells at the detention facility near Bagram: A German-Afghan man arrested by the US in July, Ahmad Sidiqi, has allegedly told his interrogaters that Osama bin Laden had personally approved and financed plans for multiple terror attacks in Europe.
This digitally enhanced photo from the US Department of Defense and the FBI shows an age-progression image of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, the world's most wanted man since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
This image shows an alternative age-progression of the al-Qaida leader. The attack plans had allegedly been prepared by a top al-Qaida official called Sheikh Younis al-Mauretani. According to information obtained by SPIEGEL, Sidiqi alleged that Younis has risen in the ranks to become al-Qaida's third most important member.
It is unknown how credible Sidiqi's statements are. What is know about him is that he attended prayers at the mosque that used to be known as the al-Quds mosque in Hamburg, Germany, where Mohamed Atta and other terrorists responsible for the US attacks also prayed.
Sidiqi was also friends with Mounir el Motassadeq, a man convicted in 2007 to 15 years in prison for his involvement in aiding the 9/11 suicide bombers.
As a result of Sidiqi's claims, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has been receiving daily briefings on the situation for weeks now. The case is being coordinated at the highest levels of government between Washington and berlin. Officials in both capitals are assessing possible terrorist plans in Europe.
