"The only Sept. 11 suspect ever convicted walked out of jail Wednesday [April 7] smiling and laughing, freed less than 2 1/2 years into a 15-year sentence after judges ruled the evidence was too weak to hold him pending a retrial," reported AP. "Mounir el Motassadeq, whose conviction on charges of aiding the Sept. 11 plotters was overturned last month, seemed euphoric as he left the Hamburg court building with two friends and his lawyer. He said nothing but laughed as reporters peppered him with questions."
The United States believes that the Moroccan should not be free to go. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said in response to Germany's decision, "We believe the evidence against him is strong and we believe he is a dangerous guy."
