BEGPRODNO : M-INT-00012370

BEG BATES : 265A-NY-280350-302-50724

DATE = 10/11/2001
FBIDESCR : INTERVIEW OF MALCOLM NANCE
FULLTEXT : FD-302 (Rev. 10-6-95)

-1 -
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 10/11/2001

MALCOLM NANCE, born September 20. 1961. social_ security ... 9/11
Personal
Privacy
was interviewed By bpeciai Agents regarding control number
Specifically, NANCE telephoned the Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI to report that approximately one year ago, while at the
Discount Gun Mart, 1510 Moreno Boulevard, San Diego, California
CA, he observed two Saudi Arabian men, one of whom he believed
resembled AHMED AL-NAMI, one of the deceased highjackers from
United Airlines Flight number 93, that crashed in the countryside
in Pennsylvania. After being advised of the identities of the
interviewing agents, NANCE provided the following information:

NANCE retired from the Navy approximately five months

ago. Prior to retiring, NANCE was assigned as the Chief of
Advanced Terrorism, Hostage Survival School, San Diego, CA. NANCE
is a Navy trained Arabic linguist and is familiar with several
different dialects of Arabic. NANCE is also knowledgeable about
terrorist cells, and how they train and operate.

On October 7,2000, approximately one week prior to the

bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, NANCE visited the Discount Gun
Mart, 1510 Moreno Boulevard, San Diego, CA to use their firearms
range. NANCE observed two Middle Eastern men, one older and one
younger, signing in to use the range. The range is small as it
only has six lanes.

NANCE began to closely observe both men after hearing

both men converse in Arabic and watching the younger man fire his
weapon, a .22 caliber Lugar style weapon. The younger Middle . 9/11 Law
Eastern man was proficient in firearms as evidenced by him , Enforcement
completely and accurately emptying a magazine with rapid fire into . .
the target from the twenty five yard line. This seemed odd to . Privacy
NANCE, as everyone else at the range was shooting slowly from a .
short distance and using both hands. The younger man did not,,
appear to be formally trained in firearms. Instead, he appeared to
be showing off by shooting one handed, rapid fire, without taking
time to breathe or aim. Yet, he was accurately hitting.the target.

Investigation on at
10/11/2001 vyashington, DC

File # .--'" Date dictated

265A-NY-2803350-3Q2_.
SAi
by 3t
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI
and is loaned to your agency;

September 8, 2003 12:03 pm Page 1

 it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

[PDF page 1]

F0-302a (Rev. 10-6-95)

265A-NY-2803350-302

Continuation of FD-302 of MALCOLM NANCE . On 10/11/2001 , Page 2

The younger man appeared to be training the older man on how to

operate a firearm. NANCE repeatedly heard the younger man telling
the older man to shoot faster.

Both Middle Eastern men left the Discount Gun Mart around
the same time as NANCE did, and he observed them getting into an
older car that did not appear to be in good condition. However,
NANCE could not recall the make or model but guessed that the car
may have been blue.

NANCE had completely forgotten about the incident. NANCE

only recalled the incident when he returned to San Diego after the
September 11 terrorist attacks, and was contemplating going to
Discount Gun Mart. The possibility that both Middle Eastern men
that NANCE had observed one year earlier may have been associated
with the September 11 attacks bothered NANCE, and he told DAVID
MITCHELL, telephone number 619545-4652, Chief Instructor, Navy
Force Protection Officers School, about his observation one year
prior.

After reviewing the FBI photographs of the terrorists

from the airplane highjackings on September 11, 2000, NANCE
believed that the younger Middle Eastern man he observed at
Discount Gun Mart resembled AHMED AL NAMI, one of the deceased
highjackers from United Airlines flight 93. In retrospect, NANCE
believed both Middle Eastern men were behaving and training with
firearms like members of a terrorist cell. NANCE contacted the Gun
Discount Mart and spoke to an employee who told him the store
retains sign in sheets for the firearms range for approximately one
year.

NANCE described the younger Middle Eastern man in his

twenties, between 57" and 5'9", weighing 150-160 pounds, clean
shaven, a good looking guy, almost "a pretty boy." At the time,
the younger man was dressed in western style clothing. The younger
Middle Eastern man was speaking Arabic in a Gulf dialect, which is
spoken in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The older man was in his forties, approximately 5'6"

tall, stocky build, clean shaven, black hair that was turning gray,
and he spoke Arabic with a Lebanese dialect. The older man was
wearing a collar shirt over a t-shirt with cartoon characters in
purple and pink that advertised a discount cigarette store in Las
Vegas, Nevada. NANCE remembered the t-shirt because the FBI had

[PDF page 2]

FD-302a (Rev. 10-6-95)

September 8, 2003 12:03 pm Page 2

 265A-NY-2803350-302

Continuation of FD-302 of MALCOLM NANCE , On 10/11/2001 .Page 3

just arrested members of a Hezbollah group that had been operating

a discount cigarette store on the east coast.

[PDF page 3]

Page3
Septembers, 2003 12:03 pm
BEGPRODNO : M-INT-00029446
BEGBATES : 265A-NY-280350-302-60349
DATE = 09/28/2001
FBIDESCR : scisol; CHERYL HARDIN, ASSISTANT MANAGER
FULLTEXT : FD-302 (Rev. 10-6-95)

- 1-

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 10/01/2001

On September 28, 2001, Cheryl Hardin, Assistant Manager,

Wal-Mart Discount Department Store! 1.
\s interviewed
regarding information provided by Angie Brundage, a co-worker,
which was captured on Information Control number SC1801.

On 09/28/2001, Angie Brundage, cashier, Wai-Mart Discount

Department Storel I
\y reported that a_
Ab Aziz Al Omari (deceased hijacker (AA
, Wf\ resembled Abdul
Flight #1 1 ), came into her store approximately a month and a half •'9/11
ago, and again, circa September 12th, and on both occasions, Personal
between the times of 2:00am and 3:00am. This customer tried to use Privacy
a credit card that wouldn't process and possessed an "ID" that was
a plain piece of paper with his photo and his thumbprint on the
back. Brundage stated that the transaction with this customer was
witnessed by her Assistant Manager, Cheryl LNU, and co-worker,
Scott Berringer.

On 09/28/2001 , Cheryl Hardin, reported that approximately

a month and half to two months ago, the customer in question, who
resembled Abdul Aziz Al Omari, came into Wal-Mart store, with a
white female and a small child. Hardin recalled that the white
female was named "Debbie" NFI, very heavy set, and with brown
shoulder length hair. Based on the white female's appearance and /
manner, Hardin opined that the white female was a "prostitute".
The male child with this white female appeared to be bi-racial.

On this occasion, the customer attempted to purchase

approximately $800.00 worth of goods, to include a shotgun, a
rifle, and a night-vision scope for the rifle. The customer tried ,
to pay with a personal check, which did not process, and then/tried 9/11 Law
to pay with a credit card, which also did not process.
Enforcement
Hardin described the customer in question, as a male, in ,. Privacy
his mid 20's, 5'8" to 5'9", thin build, and weighing approximately
150 to 160 pounds. To her recollection, he was from the/Bay area.
Hardin also recalled that this customer mentioned that he worked
for the airlines in a maintenance capacity. . .

Investigation on at.
09/28/2001

File# Date dictated

265A-NY-28Q350-SC 10/01/2001
by

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI
and is loaned to your agency;
it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

September 8, 2003 12:05 pm Page 1

 [PDF page 1]

FD-302a (Rev. 10-6-95)

265A-NY-280350-SC

Continuation of FD-302 of Cheryl Hardin , On 09/28/2001 , Page 2

Circa September 12, 2001, the customer in question came

to the Wal-Mart store again, by himself, and attempted to purchase
a shotgun and a night-vision scope. He was told that there would
be a three day waiting period, after a firearm was purchased,
before delivery. He also provided a credit card which did not
process. Hardin stated that the customer became upset because of
the three day waiting period and the fact that his credit card
would not process, again. He again mentioned that he worked for an
airline company and he had money.
. . 9/11 Law
SA| requested that Hardin obtain a vehicle tag or any ^ ,-.
other identifying data on the customer, should he come in again. rLnrorcement
Privacy
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September 8, 2003 12:05 pm Page 2

BEQPRODNO M-INT-00101395
BEGBATES 265A-NY-280350-302-84899
DATE 11/28/2001
FBIDESCR ALLEN,LYNN
FULLTEXT 11/30/2001

On November 28, 2001, the investigating Agent was

telephonically contacted by Lynn Allen, white male, date of birth

9/11 Personal Privacy

\ Allen then relayed the
following information:

Allen advised that on approximately April 26 or 27 of

2000, he was on a business trip. He was working for another
company at that time. Allen stated that he was either on a
flight from Las Vegas to Reno or on a flight from Reno to
Las Vegas. He believed he was on a Southwest Airline's flight in
that they are the only airlines that offers direct flights
between these two cities.

During this flight, he sat next to an individual who he

believed looked like the subject, Mohammad Atta. Allen advised
that he has seen pictures of Atta, via the news media.

This individual appeared to be in his mid 40s and of

Middle Eastern descent. However, Allen noted that he did not
seem to have much of an accent indicating he was from the Middle
East. Allen explained that this individual was well spoken in
the English language. Allen also noted that the individual was
well dressed and may have been wearing a sports jacket. He was
also clean shaven.

Allen stated that they had a general conversation

during the flight and during the course of the general
conversation, this individual brought up the subject of how easy
it would be to hijack a plane. Allen stated that he responded
that the airline industry in the United States had not had any
significant hijackings since the 1970s and pointed out the fact
that it would be difficult to get a firearm on a plane with all
the precautions that are taken. Allen noted that this individual
responded by stating that an individual could get on the plane
with a knife and use that in a hijacking.

Allen stated that he could not recall any further

details of this conversation. It was at this point that they

11/28/2001 Reno, Nevada telephonically

265A-NY-280350 11/28/2001

Special A(9/ll La Enforcement Privacy

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265A-NY-280350

11/28/2001

were preparing to land.

Allen stated that he did not acquire any more

information concerning this individual such as where the
individual was from, where he lived, or where he worked.

September 8, 2003 12:11 pm Page 1

 Additionally, he did not have a religious or theological
discussion with this individual. The only thing that Allen could
recall about this individual was that he was heading on to the
"Bay Area" San Francisco/Oakland, California area upon landing
at their destination.

Allen could not recall any further details in reference

to this individual or his encounter with this individual.

[PDF page 2]

September 8, 2003 12:11 pm Page 2