Zacarias Moussaoui, 9/11 Plot, Virginia 2006

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a somber reminder of the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost, countless injuries, and the families left with unimaginable pain. EDVA Acting U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh reflects on the tragic events of 9/11, which have shaped Americans, public servants, and individuals.

As the attack on the Pentagon took place within EDVA, the tragedy is deeply personal for the community. EDVA staff members, families, and friends lost loved ones in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In response, EDVA joins neighbors in remembering those lost, thanking those who saved lives, and honoring those who died protecting the country. EDVA’s history with 9/11 includes the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui, the only individual to date convicted in a U.S. court for the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Moussaoui, as he admitted in an EDVA courtroom, knew of al Qaeda’s plan to fly airplanes into prominent buildings in the United States. He agreed to travel to the U.S. as a member of al Qaeda to participate in the terrorist operation. Moussaoui was arrested on immigration charges weeks before 9/11 after engaging in suspicious behavior at a flight training school in Minnesota. He possessed knives, fighting gloves, and shin guards, along with flight manuals for the Boeing 747-400 and other items.

Moussaoui provided false statements to federal agents to conceal his involvement and allow his al Qaeda ‘brothers’ to proceed with the operation. He was sentenced on May 4, 2006, to life in prison without parole. EDVA will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with events reflecting on that tragic day, the aftermath, and EDVA’s role in the Moussaoui prosecution.

On September 7, Acting U.S. Attorney Parekh will host a virtual fireside chat with Michael J. Morell, the former Acting Director and Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Morell served for 33 years in the CIA, worked for six U.S. presidents, and is the only person to have been with President Bush on 9/11 and President Obama when Osama bin Laden was brought to justice.

On September 9, Acting U.S. Attorney Parekh will host a virtual panel discussion titled ‘Behind the Scenes of the Moussaoui Prosecution.’ Participants include U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Spencer, and Edward MacMahon, Moussaoui’s lead defense attorney. The panel will share stories from inside and outside the courtroom and reflect on the historic nature of the case.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Zacarias Moussaoui’s conviction serves as a testament to EDVA’s commitment to justice. As EDVA continues to reflect on the tragic events of 9/11, the community remains resolute in standing against terror, hatred, and fear.

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