US had 'bomber' in their hands

2005-11-14 16:00

Baghdad - American forces detained and later released an Iraqi with the same name as one of the suicide attackers who struck three hotels in Amman, Jordan, last week, said the United States military on Monday.

Jordanian authorities said Safaa Mohammed Ali, 23, was among the suicide attackers who struck last Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt, SAS Radisson and Day's Inn hotels, killing at least 57 people.

A statement by the US command said someone by that name was detained in November 2004 in connection with the American assault on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.

The command said it could not confirm whether the person detained was the same man who took part in the Amman attack.

"He was detained locally at the division detention facility", but was released two weeks later because there was no "compelling evidence to continue to hold him" as a "threat to the security of Iraq."

- AP