First 9/11 conviction
The week's news at a glance.
Hamburg
A Moroccan student has been given the maximum penalty—15 years in prison—for helping the 9/11 hijackers, in the first conviction associated with the attacks. Mounir al-Motassadeq, 28, lived with Mohamed Atta and two of the other hijackers in a Hamburg apartment for years and attended services at the local mosque with them. In 2000, he spent three weeks in an Afghan terrorist training camp, where he listened to Osama bin Laden’s lectures. Motassadeq, a father of two, said he had no idea his friends were plotting an attack on Americans. He plans to appeal.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle