Bus with Israeli tourists on way to airport in Bulgaria bombed.

[Magda Hassan]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
JOINT TASK FORCE GUANTANAMO
GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA
APO AE 09360
REPLY TO
AITENTION OF
JTF GTMO-CG 10 April2004
MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, United States Southern Command, 3511 NW 9lst Avenue,
Miami, FL33172.
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Transfer to the Control of Another Country for Continued
Detention (TRCD) for Guantanamo Detainee, ISN: US9SW-000166DP (S)
1. (FOUO) Personal Information:
o First name Middle names Last name: Mehdi Ghezali
o Aliases: Mehdi Mohammad Ghezali
o Place of Birth: Stockholm. Sweden (SW)
o Date of Birth: 5 Julv 1979
o Citizenship: Sweden
(SW)
2. (FOUO) Health: He is in good health.
3. (S) Detainee Summary:
a. (S) Background and Capture Data:
o The detainee claimed to have been on vacation in Portugal and then visiting in Saudi
Arabia from August 1999 to June 2000; however, the Portuguese government provided evidence
detainee was jailed for theft during this time.
o In January 2000, detainee claims to have left Sweden to attend Ramadan in Saudi
Arabia with his friend Abdul Salam.
o Detainee claims that he met another friend, Yousef Fresh, while in Saudi Arabia.
o Detainee claims that he and Abdul Salam traveled to Mecca and then Medina. Upon
completion of the Haj, they returned to Sweden.
o While attending Ramadan, detainee claims he met a Moroccan named Nieem who
convinced the detainee to travel to London, United Kingdom (UK).
o In May 2001, detainee traveled to London, UK, and stayed with Nieem.
CLASSIFIED BY: Multiple Sources
REASON:E.O. 12958 Section 1.5©
DECLASSIFY ON: 20290410
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JTF GTMO-CG
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Transfer to the Control of Another Country for Continued
Detention (TRCD) for Guantanamo Detainee, ISN: US9SW-000166DP (S)
. Approximately two weeks later, detainee and Nieem then traveled to Islamabad,
Pakistan (PK), and stayed at one of Nieem's residences.
o A week later, detainee was taken to Abu Abdullah's house near Jalalabad,
Afghanistan (AF) by Nieem and stayed for approximately 5 months. Detainee claims that all he
did for those five months
"was
to study the Koran and go for walks."
o When the coalition bombing began, Abdullah told the detainee to leave Afghanistan
because the Arabs would kill him and his family. Detainee also claims that he chose to leave
Jalalabad, AF, in October 2001 with a group of women and children in fear of being captured
and executed by the Northern Alliance because he was a foreigner of Arab descent.
o Abdullah made arrangements for Ali (a Moroccan) and Ismael (a Tunisian) to take
the detainee to Pakistan.
o Detainee and his companions traveled for approximately 30 days before being
arrested along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border by Pakistani authorities and then turned over to
US authorities. Detainee also claims he was captured at an unidentified mosque near the
Pakistan/Afghani stan border.
o Detainee claims that the Pakistani authorities confiscated his passport, driver's
license, and an unknown amount of money.
b. (S) Transfer to JTF GTMO: Detainee was subsequently transported to Guantanamo Bay
Naval Base, Cuba, on 17 January 2002.
c. (S) Reasons for Transfer to JTF GTMO: To provide general-to-specific information on
the cultural, religious, and ethnic recruitment of Muslim foreign nationals attending the Haj in
Saudi Arabia.
d. (S) Reasons for Continued Detention in Another Country:
o Detainee has been uncooperative, unforthcoming and deceptive during interrogations
at JTF GTMO and has systematically recanted both the original and later versions of his story.
o According to sensitive reporting, within the last six months, detainee's father, Mehdi
Ghezali, met with AbdolrahmanBarzanjee, an Al-Qaida associate and possible Ansar Al-Islam
coordinator for Europe. During the meeting,Barzanjee arrapged to give Ghezali any assistance
he might need in Sweden.
o Additionally, according to sensitive reporting, a Swedish hijacking suspect stated that
he did not personally know detainee, but he had met detainee's brother.
o Detainee mentioned that there was an article in a Swedish newspaper stating that he
was a terrorist and life for him has ended.
o Detainee mentioned during interrogations that a friend named Yusef visited him
while he was in Saudi Arabia. According to sensitive reporting, there is a Swedish Al-Qaida
operative that goes by the alias Yusef who specialized in
'pick-pocketing'
to finance Al-Qaida
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JTF GTMO-CG
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Transfer to the Control of Another Country for Continued
Detention (TRCD) for Guantanamo Detainee, ISN: US9SW-000166DP (S)
operations. This individual is also a close associate of Abu Zubaydah, a senior Al-Qaida
operative/faci litator.
o Detainee was captured with23 other Arabs from various countries to include,
Denmark, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, some of whom have admitted to being Al-Qaida or
members of and associated with other Tier 1 terrorist organizations; which are described as
terrorist groups, especially those with state support, that have demonstrated the intention and the
capability to attack US persons or interests. Detainee has yet to discuss these individuals, details
of his travels, or places he stayed.
e. (S) lntelligence Value: JTF GTMO has determined that this detainee is of medium
intelligence value due to his knowledge of:
o Recruitment tactics in Saudi Arabia.
o Nieem, a suspected Al-Qaida facilitator.
o Other Al-Qaida members'travels and biographical details.
o Safehouses in Afghanistan.
o Al-Qaida transit routes in and out of Afghanistan.
4. (S) Detainee's Conduct: Detainee's overall behavior has been generally non-compliant and
non-aggressive. ISN 166 has disregarded the guards'instructions concerning cellblock
requirements and has been seen talking with other detainees in other cellblocks.
5. (S) EC Status: Detainee's enemy combatant status was reassessed on 24 February 2004, and
he remains an enemy combatant.
6. (S) JTF GTMO Assessment:
a. (S) Summary: It is assessed that this detainee is a possible Al-Qaida member and had
gone to Afghanistan to support the Taliban. Detainee has been uncooperative and claims that he
joined 20 women and children trying to escape Afghanistan; however, his capture data states that
he was captured with admitted Al-Qaida members. The detainee has stated that he will provide
the United States with no information, even if it means he remains incarcerated. It has been
determined that the detainee poses a medium risk, as he may possibly pose a threat to the US, its
interests and allies.
b. (S) Recommendation: JTF GTMO recommends this detainee be transferred to the
control of another country for continued detention.
a
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SEcRET I 120290410S E c R E T I 1 2 0 2 9 0 4 1 0
JTF GTMO-CG
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Transfer to the Control of Another Country for Continued
Detention (TRCD) for Guantanamo Detainee, ISN: US9SW-000166DP (S)
7. (S) Coordination: JTF GTMO notified the Criminal lnvestigative Task Force (CITF) of this
recommendation on 9 March 2004. CITF has not evaluated the detainee.
EncI
, MITCHELL R. LECLAIRE
Brigadier General, U.S. Army
Deputy Commander
CF: CITF-JTF GTMO
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Behavioral Health Service Addendum to the TRCD Memo
ISN: US9SW-000166DP (S)
Language: Swedish, English, Arabic
8 Apr 04
1. Backeround
a. The detaine e is a24-year-old Swedish male who arrived at JTF GTMO in January
2002. He lacks a recorded psychiatric history, as he has not accessed Behavioral Health
services since his arrival. However, his psychosocial history is of concern. The detainee's
father and older brother both have criminal histories, and the detainee's father is thought to
have Al-Qaida ties. At about age 20, the detainee was held for several months in preventive
detention in Portugal following arrest for several counts of theft. His parents' marriage is
1o
longer intact, and he appears to have very few close social ties at home. He completed a 9tn
grade education and accomplished a3-year training course in welding, but has never been
employed, citing only a summer practical experience in 1999 that did not turn into a
permanent position.
b. Behavior Evaluation. Review of detainee's recorded behaviors since he arrived at
Camp Delta in January 2002 reveals a history of passive non-compliance but a lack of overt
aggressive acts. He has occasionally verbally harassed guards and has frequently engaged in
physical training. The detainee has made some attempts to teach and lead prayer, and he
occasionally communicates with detainees on other blocks. He does not; however, appear to
demonstrate leadership abilities, most likely due to his youth and lack of experience.
2. Disposition
a. Summary and Recommendation: From a psychological and behavioral perspective,
the detainee can be considered an overall moderate risk with regard to the U.S., its allies, and
interests. Of particular concern are his youth, his own criminal activities, his relation to
others (father, brother) who have also repeatedly engaged in criminal activities, and his
devout over-identification with his religion, which appears to make up for lack of self-concept
and self-esteem. These factors, along with his past travel destinations/methods, suspected
associations with members of Al-Qaida, recorded non-compliant behaviors and distinct lack
of cooperation during period of detainment, indicate that the probability of this detainee
returning to terrorist activities is rated as high. The severity of the consequences of that
potential return is rated as moderate, as he does not appear to have had a significant leadership
role in the past, nor has he taken on a leadership role during his detainment. He can be
considered an easily manipulated follower, readily influenced by others, and he will be highly
vulnerable to efforts to recruit him for future terrorist activities. His Western residence and
passport would likely make him a very desirable recruitment target.
CLASSIFIED BY: Multiple Sources
REASON: E.O. 12958 Section 1.5©
DECLASSIFY ON: 20290403
SEcRET I 120290403 I