Terrorist suspect tried to get truck-driving job

(Sept. 19, 2001) – The man who helped start the concern over hazardous materials and terrorists was turned down for a truck driving job in Chicago this past August.

Nabil Al-Marabh, who was arrested in the terrorism investigation following the attacks of Sept. 11, was found to have a commercial driver’s license with a hazardous materials endorsement. It is another suggestion that terrorists might have been looking at using hazmat trucks as weapons of mass destruction. Last month, a group of suspects were arrested in Britain for planning to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago by driving three fuel tankers in the basement.

The Associated Press this week reported that Marabh tried to get a job with Container Express Inc. in the Chicago area. Marabh was foiled by simple background checks that most trucking companies insist on, especially those hauling hazardous chemicals.

Al-Marabh was caught trying to enter the United States from Canada using a fake Canadian passport. He was handed over to Canadian authorities and later released on bail, but didn’t show up for a Sept. 13 court appearance. He was arrested Sept. 19 on immigration charges and a fugitive warrant from Massachusetts.

Authorities were also concerned because Al-Marabh had reportedly obtained more than one duplicate CDL from Michigan and Ontario, claiming his had been lost.