Tweet

Nov 1, 2001 12:00 PM

A Kuwaiti native arrested Sept 19, 2001, in the ongoing terrorism investigation not only had a commercial driver license with a hazardous materials endorsement but also had attempted to obtain a job driving for a Chicago IL-area trucking company. His job application reportedly was rejected because he had too many traffic violations.

Nabil al Marabh, arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Burbank IL, is being held in the global terrorism investigation. He had applied August 20 to drive for Container Express Inc in Summit IL, according to news reports in the Chicago Sun Times. Al Marabh's application was rejected September 10, the day before the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington DC.

Reportedly, al Marabh would have driven for Container Express as a contractor in a tractor supplied by Walid Beitouni. Beitouni reportedly has subcontracted tractors to the carrier in the past. Container Express does not haul hazardous materials, according to Michael Parise, company president.

Authorities have expressed concern over the possibility of bombing attacks from trucks loaded with explosives and over the risk of hazmat shipments falling into the hands of terrorists. However, there have been no public reports that al Marabh was linked to any such plot. On the other hand, he has been linked to documents related to the Sears Tower in downtown Chicago, a source close to the investigation told the Sun Times.