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Al-Qaeda threat 'not appreciated' Al-Qaeda 'funded by Europe's spy'
(about 2 hours later)
Western governments did not understand the threat posed by al-Qaeda in the 1990s, an agent who infiltrated the network has told the BBC's Newsnight. An agent who infiltrated al-Qaeda in the 1990s was passing it money supplied by European intelligence services, the agent has told the BBC's Newsnight.
The spy, named as Omar Nasiri, trained at al-Qaeda's camps in Afghanistan and met senior figures from the group. The spy, known by the pseudonym of Omar Nasiri, said that to maintain his cover the French and UK services reluctantly gave him money to pass to al-Qaeda.
He did not know how the money was spent, he told the programme.
Mr Nasiri also claimed a senior al-Qaeda operative planted evidence to provoke the US into war against Iraq.
Ibn Sheikh Al-Libi fabricated links between al-Qaeda and Iraq when being questioned by US forces in late 2001, he said.
Mr Nasiri trained at al-Qaeda's camps in Afghanistan and met senior figures from the group.
He described the use of chemical weapon experiments. And he claimed radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri was given terror training in London.He described the use of chemical weapon experiments. And he claimed radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri was given terror training in London.
Al-Qaeda first came to prominence after the attacks on 11 September in the US.
'Legacy''Legacy'
BBC Security Correspondent Gordon Corera said the revelations had provided an "insight into the emergence of al-Qaeda in the 90s". BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said the revelations had provided an "insight into the emergence of al-Qaeda in the 90s".
Our correspondent said French authorities had been concerned about Algerian terrorists and British authorities feared attacks in the UK. He said French authorities had been concerned about Algerian terrorists and British authorities feared attacks in the UK.
But the details given by the agent, who worked for both the French and British intelligence services, showed that "people were not necessarily looking at those global interconnections".But the details given by the agent, who worked for both the French and British intelligence services, showed that "people were not necessarily looking at those global interconnections".
He added that the "legacy" of the Afghan training camps of the 1990s was being seen in the form of global attacks.He added that the "legacy" of the Afghan training camps of the 1990s was being seen in the form of global attacks.
When asked if he ever forgot he was a spy while in Afghanistan, "Omar" replied: "Oh yeah, all the time. When asked if he ever forgot he was a spy while in Afghanistan, "Omar" replied: "Oh yeah, all the time."
"In the day I am not a spy. The only moment I knew when I come back to myself, the real one, was when I put the cover on my head and talk about who I am with me." Al-Qaeda first came to prominence after the attacks on 11 September 2001 in the US.
The full interview with Omar Nasiri can be seen on BBC2's Newsnight at 2230 GMT. The full interview with Omar Nasiri can be seen on BBC2's Newsnight at 2230 GMT.