Terrorist on trial

last updated 8 January 2015

Alexandria, Va.

Terror conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui shouted, “I am al Qaida!” and was tossed out of the courtroom this week, on the opening day of jury selection for his sentencing trial. Moussaoui, a Frenchman of Moroccan descent, denounced his American lawyers, vowing to fight the death penalty by taking the stand himself during the trial, which begins March 6. “This trial is a circus,” he said. “These people do not represent me.” Moussaoui pleaded guilty in April to plotting to fly planes into buildings in the U.S. Prosecutors contend Moussaoui could have prevented the 9/11 attacks by telling authorities about al Qaida’s plans. The defense argues that Moussaoui knew less about 9/11 than the government did, citing investigations that turned up multiple missed opportunities that might have headed off the attacks.