German court finds September 11 suspect guilty

A German court sentenced Mounir el Motassadeq to 15 years in prison Wednesday. Motassadeq was the first person to be tried on charges directly connected to the September 11 attacks on the United States. A national of Morocco, Motassadeq was found guilty of belonging to a terrorist group and being an accessory - someone who helps a lawbreaker without being present at the crime - to the murder of more than 3,000 people in the U.S.

Motassadeq's sentence was the maximum asked for by the prosecution. His lawyers say they will appeal. But the case is already a legal first: The court's message may open the way to further prosecutions.

Motassadeq has always admitted having close ties with September 11 hijackers Mohammed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi. He was a personal witness at Atta's last will and testament, and he had power of attorney on al-Shehhi's bank account, which he used to pay al-Shehhi's bills.

SPECIAL REPORT • Interactive: The hunt for al Qaeda • Audio slide show: Bin Laden's audio message, 2/03 • Terror warning system • Special report: Terror on tape • Special report: War against terror RESOURCES • CNN.com: 15 years for 9/11 conspirator  • CNN.com: War Against Terror-Southeast Asian Front  • CNN.com: Profile: Mounir el Motassadeq  • CNN.com: Osama bin Laden  • Hunting bin Laden  • The Terrorism Research Center

Motassadeq confirmed this fact himself. "This is true," he said, "It's normal and common to help others. When [al-Shehhi] was traveling home, I was taking care of payments for his apartment, tuition for university."

CNN conducted an exclusive interview with Motassadeq before his arrest, during which he said he only knew the would-be hijackers as Muslim friends in Hamburg, Germany. Later, authorities found out that Motassadeq had trained at the same camps in Afghanistan where Atta and others trained. But Motassadeq still denied any prior knowledge of the September 11 attacks.

Prosecutors successfully argued that Motassadeq played a key supporting role in the Hamburg al Qaeda cell. Though he never intended to take part in the actual hijackings, prosecutors said that Motassadeq ensured the hijackers' rent and tuition fees were paid in Germany. Without Motassadeq's help, the September 11 hijackers may not have been able to carry out their mission.

The German judge who passed out Motassadeq's sentence said that he was part of a group that saw the U.S. as an enemy. The judge also said that Motassadeq himself had prior knowledge of a plot to strike at America's economic and political core.

CNN's Matthew Chance reported that the true significance of this trial stretches far beyond a single sentence, and that for the families of the September 11 victims, justice in courts around the world has finally begun. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft echoed that sentiment, praising German prosecutors for convicting the terrorist. Ashcroft said that the decision reflects continued cooperation between U.S. and German law enforcement agencies in the global battle against terrorism.