The Spy Who - The Spy Who Almost Stopped 9/11 | Death Is Not An Option | 2

Episode Date: August 25, 2026

In Yemen, FBI counter-terrorism agent Ali Soufan is trying to uncover who bombed the U.S. destroyer USS Cole. Now he’s got a suspect who could blow the case wide open: al-Qaeda operative Fahd al-Quso. But al-Quso’s also got intel about another plot. One that will shake America to its core.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of The Spy Who, ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. January 5th, 2000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ten months before Al-Qaeda's attack on the USS Cole. From a nearby apartment, a surveillance officer from Special Branch, Malaysia's Secret Service, watches a secluded condominium. The condo overlooks a golf resort. and would usually house tourists or businessmen.

But its current guests are different. They're Al-Qaeda, and the CIA has asked special branch to monitor this gathering of terrorists from across the globe. It's been a boring stakeout so far, dominated by stifled yawns. But as the door of the condo swings open, the officer reaches for his camera.

Through the viewfinder, he sees an Arab man with a metal prosthesis in place of his right leg, leave the building. He heads down the street to a payphone. As he tells a number, the officer focuses and takes a photo. Three days later, a secret location in Kuala Lumpur. A CIA officer examines the surveillance photos. They've been laid out on the table by a special branch officer.

He scans the pictures, looking for familiar faces. Did you get any audio? He couldn't plant listening devices inside. The risk of detection was too high. The CIA man nods, then picks up one of the photos, and peers more closely at one of the people in it. I know this guy. Khaled al-Midhar.

Saudi intelligence flagged him as al-Qaeda. I remember him because he holds a U.S. visa. Al-Midhar has been on the CIA watch list for a while. In fact, it was an NSA wiretap on his father-in-law's phone that alerted the CIA to the al-Qaeda summit in Malaysia. He reaches for another photo. It shows another al-Qaeda operative from Saudi Arabia. The agency only knows him by the name Nawaf.

But then he notices the photo of the man with the prosthesis at the phone booth. He's new, an unknown actor. Who's the guy with the missing leg? We're not sure. He's traveling on a fake Yemeni passport under the name Saeed bin Salah. But our team overheard him being called Khalad by the others. He's booked a first-class seat to Bangkok, the same flight as Al-Minda and Nawaf.

Do you want us to intervene? We could use the fake passport as a pretext. The CIA man moves the photos of the three men together. Then shakes his head. There's no active threat. All we do is reveal we've had eyes on them. Let them go to Bangkok. The CIA will keep watching.

And in time, these men might be recruitable, will lead them to more valuable intel. Sharing this information with the FBI or other law enforcement agencies would only compromise the surveillance operation. Far better to keep this knowledge within the agency. And with that, Khaled and the two future 9-11 hijackers he's traveling with

are allowed to continue preparing to deliver Al-Qaeda's most deadly strike. Police in Irvine, California, are investigating the double murder of a young couple in the parking lot of their apartment complex. A double homicide grabs the public's attention by the throat. We have identified Christopher Dorner as a suspect in this double homicide. A former cop and still in the loose. Considered armed. and extremely dangerous.

And scariest of all, he left something behind. A particular interest is a multi-page manifesto. This manifesto on Facebook is 11 pages long. Trace, this manifesto from this suspect who's targeting cops, it's stumbling. Listen to the show, The New Yorker calls one of the best podcasts of the summer. Dan Tiberski's Manifesto. And I tell you, this manifesto, it scares a hell out of me. Listen to Dan Tiberski's Manifesto, wherever you get your podcasts,

Or have been to the entire series right now, only with Audible. I'm Raza Jaffrey, and this is The Spy Who, an audible original. In the last episode, FBI counter-terrorism agent Ali Sufhan went to Yemen to investigate the bombing of the American Navy destroyer, the USS Cole. He and his team suspect Osama bin Laden is behind it, but proving that is an uphill struggle. Yemen's intelligence service seemed to be. out to derail the investigation and al-Qaeda operatives lurk in the shadows.

But now there's a chance of a breakthrough. Fahd al-Hasa, the man they suspect filmed the attack for al-Qaeda, is in custody. They just need to get into talk. This is episode two. Death is not an option. Ten months before 9-11, November 2000, Aden, Yemen. In an interrogation room at a facility owned by Yemeni intelligence, FBI agent Ali Sufhan is continuing to investigate the bombing of the USS Cole. With him is Bob McFadden, his colleague from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. And sitting opposite them is the prisoner they're here to question. Fahad, Al-Qasar.

They suspect Al-Qasar is the third man involved in the attack on the coal. Small and nervous, he's already contradicted his own story several times. He seems to think the FBI knows more than it does, and so he's underestimating the value of the intelligence is sharing to feign cooperation. After careful questioning from Sufane to reinforce that belief, he's finally talking freely. So freely that Sufane takes a chance on a new strategy. Are you aware of the concept of Ahead Elamane?

Of course, it means that Muslims must guarantee the safety of any non-Muslims visiting their lands, but I don't... Yemen invited the USS Col to aid and shouldn't Ahead Al-Aman apply. The Sheikh overruled this because of the evil America does. This Sheikh is Al-Hasa's first mention of the figure who organized the bombing. Sufan keeps his voice neutral. Who's the Sheikh? You know who.

Bin Laden. Suvan works to keep the excitement from his face. He knows McFadden will be doing the same. This is big. Al-Hasa has just confirmed that Al-Qaeda ordered the attack on the coal. An attack that killed 17 sailors and severely damaged a billion-dollar warship. Have you met him? Scrawny as he is, Al-Qasah seems to swell with pride.

Of course, I met him in Afghanistan. He trusts me, with other people he has guided. but he takes me into his confidence. He taught me about America's crimes and how it is the duty of Muslims to expel infidels from Arabia. Alive to the currents of interrogation, Sifan shifts the questioning to Al-Qasasas' role in the attack.

Al-Qasasas explains how his task was to film it. He was given access to a harborside apartment, a video camera, two video cassettes and a pager. The pager would alert him when it was time to go to the apartment and video the bombing, eager to impress him. bin Laden, Al-Qhasa practiced filming the apartment using one of the tapes. But you didn't actually film the attack?

No, on that day the pager was set to vibrate. I didn't see the message until after morning press. I rushed there as soon as I saw the message. I was nearly at the apartment when I heard the explosion, so I turned back. Sufan allows himself to frown. He suspect Al-Khasa is downplaying his role, and he wants him to know that. Okay. So where's the camera and the video cassettes now? At my sister's home. The next day. Back in the interrogation room, Sufan tells Al-Hasa that Yemeni intelligence searched his sister's home.

They found just one video cassette. The other is missing. Sophan crosses his arms. You want to explain this? I cannot explain this. Sufan looks to McFadden and gets a nod of encouragement. It's time to gamble on Al-Hasa's mistaken belief that the FBI knows more than it really does. So who videotate the operation if you didn't? Al-Hasa smiles. Maybe the Jin did it. Sufane pauses to consider the man before him.

If Al-Qasas's joking about genius, he may be running low on more creative excuses. Now's the time to push. But before Sufan could say anything, The Yemeni intelligence officer who's been sitting in on the interrogation interrupts. That's enough for now. This man is exhausted. He seems fine. No, no, he's right. I'm very tired. It's hard to sleep here. The interview is over. The prisoner must rest.

Sifan fumes as Al-Hasa is led away. He knows that in interrogations, you often get one moment where the suspect is ready to say more. If you don't take it, they have a chance. that we organize their story. Later that day, after Al-Hasa's break, the interrogation resumes. Sufhan asks about the months before the attack. Did you have phone conversations with anyone from Al-Qaeda?

In the time before the attack? Al-Hasa thinks before replying. About a year ago, I had a call from a brother who I first met in Afghanistan. His name was Khaled. Can you give me a description? Afh Khaled? He's small, like me? Her thick hair, Saudi accent, a beard and pretty eyes.

Oh, and Khaled lost a leg fighting the Northern Alliance. The Northern Alliance is the Afghan military coalition fighting against the Taliban regime. And what did Khaled want? A favour. His father in Saudi had sent $36,000 for a new prosthesis to a brother in Sunnah in Yemen. Sufahan exchanged his glances with McFadden. That's a lot of money for a prosthesis. Khaled was in Asia.

He needed the money brought to him in Singapore, but it's too much for one person to take through customs. He asked me to go with his brother. And you did? Yes. Khaled is a good friend and very close with Sheikh bin Laden. Their families in Saudi are close. But Singapore refused us visas, so we got stuck in Bangkok.

So Khaled came to us there. And you gave him the money? Yes, he was very pleased, and then we came home. Now it's Sufhan who calls for a break in the interview. As he and Macfaden get coffee in the next room, they discuss what they've just learned. Bob, you're thinking what I'm thinking? McFadden nods.

There's clearly more to this visit to Bangkok. Why have Al-Hasa Korea money when he's already central to a major attack on a warship? Also, it's way too much money for a prosthesis. That money's for something else. And whatever it is, it's important enough to risk the attack on the cult. So, something big. What's our next move?

We should try and trace the number Khaled used to call our gusser. Also, let's check if the CIA has anything on this meeting in Bangkok. The next day. In a cramped meeting room, Sufhan watches as his boss, FBI counter-terrorism chief John O'Neill, eyes his paper cup of cheap coffee with suspicion. Coffee came from Yemen, you know. O'Neill drinks and grimaces.

You'd think it would taste better. Sufant smiles. It's always a boost to him to have his boss around. O'Neill pushes the cup of coffee away and refocuses on the meeting. So, the CIA say they have nothing about Khalad meeting in Bangkok. But we did do a reverse dump of his hotel rooms. phone records. Sufan

leans forward slightly. And? And we found that that number and associated numbers in Yemen had all been in contact with one pay phone in Kuala Lumpur. Maybe that's where Khaled was before Bangkok.

Al-Qasah said the original plan was to meet in Singapore. My thinking, too. So did the CIA have anything on that? No. They suggested asking the NSA, but they had nothing either. Sifan's shoulders sag

I really thought we had a lead there Yeah, sorry But still, good work Just because it looks like a dead end right now It doesn't mean it'll stay that way Sofan nods Sometimes cases are made by finding that one clue That connects all the dots

But that's little conservation O'Neil smiles Besides, what matters is You've got a husser to confirm that bin Laden ordered the attack on the cold And what does that give us? Leverage. Maybe.

A chance to make Al-Qaeda a higher priority in Washington. Just over six months later, June 2001, the U.S. Embassy in Sunnah, the capital of Yemen, three months before 9-11. In a meeting room, Sufane and McFadden shake hands with the U.S. Senator they've spent the past hour briefing. He's from the Senate Intelligence Committee and wanted an update on the USS Coal investigation.

Thank you for your time, gentlemen. I'll bear in mind what you said about the threat from Al Qaeda. I wish you luck with the rest of your investigation. Thank you, sir. But as the senator leaves, his chief of staff closes the door and turns to them both. A quick word. Look, we're sympathetic to what you're saying.

Well, you need to be patient. People in the White House cannot have Al Qaeda linked to the attack on the coal. Sufán cannot believe what he's hearing. What do you mean? Al-Qaeda is linked. Everyone with access to intelligence briefings in the US government knows it. Listen, we don't agree with the White House on this either, but they don't want bin Laden involved with the coal.

President Bush is weak right now. Half the country still thinks he stole the election from Al Gore. What's that got to do with it? The White House can't risk political capital going after al-Qaeda. If the coal bombing is publicly declared to be the work, of al-Qaeda, the president is going to look weak on national security if he doesn't act. But if he goes after al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, it could split the country even more. Sufane doesn't bother to hide his look of horror at this. A look that he notices the chief of staff

does his best to ignore. Also, some in the administration feel the coal attack is yesterday's news. It's eight months ago. Memories are short in Washington. As that may be, But our job is to report facts and get answers from the victims and their families. Al-Qaeda killed 17 of our servicemen. And they're just getting started. August 2001. Three weeks before 9-11. Joe's diner, Manhattan.

Sufane sits with his boss, John O'Neill, in one of their favorite New York courts, a classic 50s diner that's been the location for many team lunches and pep talks. Today feels different, though. It's O'Neill's final day with the FBI. His abrasive manner has made him enemies at the Bureau and the CIA. He's been passed over for promotions and grown weary of battling those who want to ignore the threat from al-Qaeda. He's also facing an investigation for leaving a briefcase containing secret documents unattended during a conference.

The briefcase and its contents were recovered, but the lack of support from his superiors convinced O'Neill it was time to go. At least you'll be earning those fat private sector bucks now. How I helps your new office again, Mr. Head of Security. 34th floor, so I'll be looking down on you all. No difference there. You'll probably be flipping us the bird, too. Like you say, no difference there. The waitress delivers their meals.

Sufan gestures to O'Neill's sandwich. Ham again. Don't you want to change your infidel ways? You'll go to hell. Well, at least they've got bacon there. Sofan smiles. He and O'Neill have grown close over the years. So I have some news of my own. Oh yeah? And what's that? I'm going to propose to Heather. O'Neill smiles.

She's put up with you all this time, so she must be a good woman. So how are you going to spend the rest of your last day in the FBI? O'Neill pulls a piece of paper from his coat pocket. I've been writing to the parents of some of the sailors who died on the coal. Indulge me a little? Saffan nods. O'Neill starts to read out the letter. His voice suddenly softer than usual.

In my 31 years of service, my proudest moment was when I was selected to lead the investigation of the attack on the USS Cole. I have put my all into the investigation and truly believe that significant progress has been made. I've cried with your loss. I will keep you and all the families in my prayers, and I will continue to track the investigation as a civilian.

What do you think? That was perfect. He almost expects his boss to laugh it off or give him the finger. But O'Neill just sits there, quietly rereading the email. Sivan signals for the check. Five minutes later, they step out onto the streets of New York. O'Neill pats him on the show. shoulder. Well, don't be a stranger. I'm only working down the road. You really think headquarters

will let me visit someone like you? Farcombe. The two friends embrace. Then, O'Neill heads down the street towards his new workplace. The World Trade Center. Imagine you're reading Pride and Prejudice, except you're not reading it. Harris Dickinson and Marissa Abella are reading it to you on Audible. Her barbs sting you. His coldness. sends a shiver up your spine. Your heart aches, your ears burn. You yearn for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy to profess their undying love for one another.

You can't bear it any longer. Well, maybe a chapter longer. Performance is so good, you'll give love a second chance. Audible. Stories that speak to you. You stepped out for your morning jog. Except it's not your usual morning jog. You started listening to an epic sci-fi book on Audible.

30 chapters later, you've accidentally run a half marathon. You lost track of how far you've run somewhere just past the city limits. You can't stop. You have to find out what happens next. Then it's over. The universe seems bigger. You feel different. You feel like you have no idea where you are.

Audible. Stories that speak to you. September 9th, 2001. Two days before 9-11. Raja Bahadim. Afghanistan. In the living room of a small guesthouse, Ahmed Shah Masoud, the commander of the Northern Alliance, greets two TV reporters. They're Belgians of Moroccan descent, and they've been asking to interview him for weeks. Masoud leads the tribes that are at war with the Taliban

and its allies, Al-Qaeda. He's trying to persuade the White House to increase its support for his fight, and talking to the media can help bolster his case. So today, When his driver happened to take him past the guest house where the reporters are staying, he decided to drop by and get it over with. The two reporters reorganised the room for filming. They push a coffee table back and place two chairs together. The cameraman places his tripod just half a meter in front of Masoud, who laughs and how close it is.

Does your camera not have a zoom? The cameraman ignores him and heaves his heavy camera onto the tripod. Then the interviewer sits next to Masoud. Impatient to be finished, Masud hurries them along. So, what are your questions? We want to know why you called Osama bin Laden a murderer who should be removed from Afghanistan. Masood scowls.

But all publicity is good publicity at the moment. Fine, start. The cameraman mouthed something under his breath. Then presses the power switch on the camera. Later that day, the Sheraton Hotel, Sama, Yemen. In his room, Sufhan and an FBI colleague stare at the news report on TV. At the scene, a clear picture has yet to emerge, but it does now appear that Ahmad Shah Masoud, the leader of the Northern Alliance, has been assassinated.

Sufane is back in Yemen to continue investigating the USS Coal attack. But the news of Masoud's assassination has counted. captured their attention. He was killed by a bomb hidden in a camera. The suicide bombers seem to have posed as a fake TV crew. Sufans' colleague looks to him for guidance. Al-Qaeda? I'm sure of it. But there's got to be more behind this. What are you thinking? Sufant stares at the TV. He's not really watching or listening what's being said. Instead, he's trying to see the story behind the story. Killing Masoud doesn't benefit al-Qaeda.

Suddenly, it clicks. He feels a chill run through him. Killing Masood benefits the Taliban far more than al-Qaeda. So Al-Qaeda's just given the Taliban a reason to be forever grateful to them. Sifan's colleague looks confused. Aren't they allies? Yes. But they have different priorities.

Masud was the Taliban's problem, not al-Qaeda's. Bin Laden must be expecting something in return Maybe this is a prelude to al-Qaeda doing something big, really big His colleague grimaces Dude, you scare me when you say this stuff It's like that memo of yours just before the embassy bombings No offense, but I hope you're wrong Sufane stares at the TV

Yeah, I hope I'm wrong too September 11th, 2001 Near the city of Host Afghanistan Osama bin Laden lobes around the mountainside where he's gathered his inner circle. Nearby, one of his men is trying to use a satellite dish to get the TV signal. The rest of his entourage are gathered around waiting for the small TV set to show a picture. Bin Laden checks his watch.

Don't worry, we can use the radio instead. They tune an old radio to voice of America. It's 12 hours 43 universal time. The al-Qaeda fighters look confused as to why they are listening to an American radio station. Bin Laden ignores them. Any moment? Moment. Then a news flash interrupts the radio program that's been chattering away in the background.

Commercial jet apparently crashes into one of the world's tallest buildings, the World Trade Center. The gathered fighters watch Bin Laden break in the... into a broad grin. They realize this must be an al-Qaeda operation. They cheer and fire AK-47s into the air. But bin Laden, face glowing with excitement, raises his hand. Calm down. Wait.

He stares intently at the small battered radio. There is more. At that moment, Suna, Yemen. In the U.S. Embassy, Sifan is on the phone to his. his fiance Heather in New York when an FBI colleague rushes in. Ali, a plane just hit the World Trade Center. Sufarn struggles to process the words. You mean a helicopter?

No, a plane. Saffan takes in the shocked pallor of the FBI agent in the doorway. For a second or two, he's having trouble thinking straight. Then he hears Heather's voice. God, it's on TV, the tower's on fire. Sufane shakes off. of his confusion. Heather, I have to go. I love you. Stay at home. The FBI colleague has his back to Sufana, watching the TV in the other room. When he turns around, he's even paler than before.

Another plane just hit the South Tower. This is not an accident. Afghanistan. One of the Al-Qaeda fighters turns to bin Laden. What's going on? Is this us? Lardin just smiles. The fighters cheer and fire their guns into the air. And once more, Bin Laden raises his hand, reveling the drama. Wait, there's still more. The fighters grow quiet just as another newsflash plays on the radio. A plane has just crashed into the western side of the Pentagon.

Yemen. Hard pounding, Sufan dials the number for O'Neal's cell phone. He stares at the horror unfolding on the TV. The Twin Towers and the Pentagon are on fire. Footage of the passenger planes smashing into them are looping on repeat. Sufane tries to remember on what floor O'Neill said his new office was located. The phone rings and rings. It's John O'Neill.

John, I can't answer the phone right now, so leave a message after the tone. The next day, amid the chaos of Sana's airport, Sufahn and the FBI team are waiting to fly home. In the wake of 9-11, they've been recalled. Sufarn looks at the faces of his colleagues, all still blank with shock. There's no confirmation, but Sufane is sure O'Neill is dead, buried beneath the rubble of the Twin Towers, with thousands of others. A CIA officer rushes into the waiting room.

Which one of you is special agent, Sufant? That's me. The CIA officer brandishes a piece of paper. FBI headquarters is trying to reach you. They want you to call this number. Sivan finds a quiet corner of the airport and calls headquarters on his team's secure satellite phone. An FBI analyst answers.

Ali, there's a change of plans. He has to stay in Yemen. In Yemen? I need to get to New York. I can help figure out who did this. Which is why you need to stay in Yemen. Farhad al-Qasah is our best lead at the moment. Arcasa, from the USS Cole?

What does he have to do with this? The CIA has some intelligence for you to look over. It'll explain more. Shortly after, the US embassy, Sunnah. Sufane follows the CIA station chief into his cluttered office. The chief shuts the door behind them and hands Sufane a manila envelope. Inside, our intelligence report and three surveillance photos taken in Kuala Lumpur. One shows a photo.

of a man with a missing leg. It's Khaled, the Al-Qaeda operative that Al-Qasur delivered money to in Bangkok. Another photo shows him with the two other men. Who are they? Khalid al-Mindar and Nawaf al-Hazmi. They were passengers on American Airlines flight 77. The one that hit the Pentagon? The CIA man nods. Sufan checks the date of the intelligence report. These photos are from January 2000. His mind swirls. These surveillance photos were taken a year and nine months ago, before the attack on the USS Cole,

before he asked the CIA if it knew anything about Caled. Sufane drops the file and runs out of the room. He bolts down the corridor, pushing past a member of the FBI SWAT team and rushes into the restroom. He lunges into a storm and vomits. The SWAT agent enters the restroom. The restroom. Ali, you okay?

Ali is heaving, gasping. He leans back against the toilet still, eyes and seeing. They knew. They knew. The CIA knew, and they didn't tell us. What if AI could recreate the voice of somebody you loved who died? What if it destroyed your reputation with words you never said? And what if you fell in love with something that was never human?

I'm Mark Fennell, and in my brand new Audible original podcast, I'm travelling the globe to investigate the very personal ways. AI is already changing our relationships, our memories and our sense of what is real. Unreal. Listen now on Audible. September 18th, 2001, seven days after 9-11, Sunnah, Yemen. Sufahan walks down a corridor in a high-security Yemeni prison. He carries a place of cookies in his hand. He's here to interrogate. Abu Jandal, the former bodyguard of Osama bin Laden,

who's been imprisoned here for the past seven months. Sufans here following a fresh lead from Fahad al-Hasa, the USS coal plotter. Al-Khasa has revealed that when he was in Afghanistan, he stayed with one of the 9-11 hijackers at a guest house, and that guest house was run by Abu Jandal. So now, Sufans hoping to learn more from Abu Jandal himself. He's only just started talking to Sufarn.

The goal now is to win his trust. And that's where the cookies come in. Sufan enters the white-walled interrogation room and places the cookies on the table. I thought you might be hungry. Abu Jandal eyes the cookies with disdain. I can't eat those. They're sugar-free.

We know you're diabetic. Abu Jandal is surprised. He thanks Sufan. and takes a cookie. It's a small crack in his armor, but one Sufahn can work with. A few hours later, the cookie plate is empty. Abu Jandals talking, but he's only sharing worthless intel. Sufane changed his tag.

He asked about the civilians killed in Al-Qaeda's 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa. Where does Islam allow suicide bombers? Suicide is forbidden in the Quran. Abu Jandal appears unfazed. Now it's different in war. And this is a war. These are our weapons against the missiles of the other side. And so it's allowed.

Zofan says nothing. He wants Abu Jandal to warm to his subject. In war, there are always casualties. If those who died were good Muslims, God would accept them as martyrs too. A mother and her baby were in a bus outside the embassy in Nairobi. They were both incinerated in the blast. Did that baby deserve to die? Abu Jandal waivers for a second.

But he quickly regains his confident tone. The baby will be rewarded in heaven. It's a small sacrifice compared to the blow delved to the enemy. And to gain the hundreds of recruits who came to us asking to martyr themselves afterwards. Sufant's moment has come. He passes Abu Jandal a copy of a Yemeni newspaper. The headline reads, 200 Yemenis die in New York attack.

Genuine shock registers on Abu Jandals' face. Although he was born in Saudi Arabia, he's a Yemeni citizen. And while aware of 9-11, he's heard few details until now. Was this justified to? Abu Jandar is so stunned, he's almost whispering. No, this is a horrible crime. Al-Qaeda did this. bin Laden did this

Abu Jandal turns away from the newspaper No the shake is not crazy Sufan lays photographs of the hijackers out on the table These are the men who killed all those Yemenis Were their actions justified Abou Jandal stares at the faces

I know these men They're bin Laden's followers His face goes slack. The shape must have gone crazy. Abu Jandal falls silent. When he speaks again, his eyes are clear. I will tell you what you need to know. Saffan sits back and allows himself a moment of victory.

Abu Jandal has just given them a huge piece of information. With a few simple words, he's confirmed for the first time that Al-Qaeda carried out. 9-11. Six months later, March 2002, Washington, D.C. Sufahn is being driven to Dallas Airport by the FBI's acting deputy assistant director, Charles Fram. As he drives down the interstate, Fram briefs Sufarn. Last night, Abu Zubeda was captured in a raid on an al-Qaeda safe house in Pakistan. Sufarn already knows his name. He's a Palestinian. He isn't Al-Zubedda. He is a al-Qaida. He is captured in a raid on an al-Qaeda safehouse in Pakistan. He's a

but he does run a jihadi training camp in Afghanistan. He also helps senior al-Qaeda members with passports and travel. Abu Zabeda is our first high-value detainees since 9-11. You're being seconded to the CIA to support the interrogation. They want you because of your knowledge about him. But this is a CIA operation all the way through. Don't read Abu Zabeda his rights or worry about admissibility of evidence in court. Understood.

How long will I be out there? As long as the CIA needs you. The Fram slows the car as they've reached the debargers terminal. Also, I'm told Abu Zabedah's in bad shape, so he'll be flying out with two medics. The next day, detention site Green, a CIA safe house, somewhere in Thailand. Sufane watches the medics prepare a hospital bed.

They're attempting to make the primitive building they're in as hygienic as possible. ahead of Abu Zubeda's arrival. Sufan wanders outside into the jungle heat. A CIA guard is leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette. Sifan looks at the nearby airstrip. When's the interrogation team arriving? The CIA guard tosses his cigarette and grinds it under a boot.

They're not. You're the interrogator now. I was told I'm here to support, not lead. Apparently there's disagreement about the identity at the detainee. They're not sure he's who they thought he was, and I don't want to waste time on him. So he's all yours. A small plane lands.

The doors open and a man with a hood over his head was wheeled out on the gurney. Sufane followed as he was taken into the interrogation room and moved onto the hospital bed. The guards trap him down. Then the medics get to work. He's in a bad way. He's been shot in the stomach, thigh and groin.

He's barely moving. One of the medics removes a bandage. He's got lots of metal shrap in his abdomen. Feels like splinters of coins. He gets he got shot in the wallet. Sifan removes the hood from the man's head. The man blinks in the harsh light. One of his eyes is green and cloudy from infection.

His face is covered in dry blood. He resembles the Abu Zabeda Sifan has seen pictures of, but it's hard to tell. He leans over him. as a medic hooks him up to an IV. What's your name? Daud. Sufahn nods.

He knows Daoud is one of Abu Zubedha's aliases. How about I call you an knee? Abu Zabeda looks shocked that Sufane would know his mother's nickname for him as a child. He sighs, resigned to whatever follows. Who are you? FBI. You are Mossad? No.

FBI. Sifan shows him his credentials. Abu Zabedda lies back on his bed. Convinced. Listen, you've been caught. The battle is over. We know everything about you. Sir, don't play games with me.

Abu Zabeda seems to realize there's no point in resistance. Okay. What do you want to know? Let's start with what you were working on just before you were captured. An hour later, detention site Green, Thailand. Sufane uses a secure satellite phone to cable CIA headquarters in Langley. Abu Zabeda has already revealed valuable intel. Before being captured, he was working on a plot to carry out simultaneous suicide bombings

at multiple nightclubs in Tel Aviv. The aim is to kill at least 200 people. The plot is in an advanced state, but Abu Zubeda has named the individuals involved. He's also explained how the operation is being funded via a contact in Saudi Arabia. If the CIA works quickly, they can save lives. That night, Saffan is preparing for his next interrogation session with Abu Zubeda in one of the medic centers. Hey, how important is this guy?

Why? His wounds have turned septic. Without hospital treatment, he's going to be dead by morning. If you need more from him, you better hurry. Zafan alerts CIA headquarters. The only way to save Abu Zubeda is to take him to hospital. But doing that, risks exposing the CIA's secret prison in Thailand. The response from Langley comes just minutes later.

It says death is not an option. Follow the Spy Who on the Audible app or wherever. you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes of The Spy Who, add free by joining Audible. You've been listening to The Spy Who, an Audible original. Have you got a spy story you'd like us to tell? Email your ideas to the spy who ataudible.com. A quick note about the scenes you've been hearing. In most cases, we can't know exactly what was said. Those scenes are dramatizations, but they're based on the best available sources. If you'd like to know more this story, we recommend the black banners declassified by Ali Sufane and The Looming Tower by Lawrence

Wright. The Spy Who is hosted by me, Raza Jaffrey. Produced by Audible with Yellow Ant. This episode was written by Christian Donlan and researched by Louise Byrne, with thanks to Paula Richardson. The senior producer was Jay Priest. The sound designer was Shain O'Burn. The lead sound designer was Joshua Morales. For Yellow Ant, the story editor and executive producer was Tristan Donovan. For Audible, the executive producers were Estelle Doyle and Theodora Lilludis. Head of Production, Audible Europe, Chris Jones. Senior Director of Originals, Lisa Higginson.

Head of Audible Originals International, O'Aili de Troje. Sound recording, copyright 2026 by Audible Limited.