(AP/Washington Post) The Palestinian believed to be the mastermind of bomb attacks on Israeli tourists in Egypt began dressing and talking like a Muslim fundamentalist more than a year ago, his neighbors and relatives said Tuesday. Ayad Said Saleh, who died in the bombings, was a religious fanatic who may have been linked to Islamic militants outside Egypt, but not necessarily al-Qaeda, investigators said. The 25-year-old taxi driver and school dropout grew his beard longer and exchanged T-shirts and slacks for the midcalf garb of fundamentalists. If a woman said hello, he wouldn't respond. He ignored neighbors whose observance fell short of his standards.
2004-10-28 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive