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All 19 hijackers entered US with valid visas

All the 19 Arab men who are believed to have carried out the September 11 attacks on the United States had entered the country with valid visas, the justice department said, but three of them had lost their legal status by the time the attacks took place.

The majority of the attackers, 15, were from Saudi Arabia while two came from the United Arab Emirates, one was an Egyptian and another Lebanese.

While 14 of the suspected hijackers entered the US in the month of May and June this year, two gained entry in January and December last year.

All the 19 were granted for visas for purposes of business, education or tourism.

Satam M A Al Suqami came in May this year as a temporary visitor for business but his visa had expired by September 11.

Nawaf M S Alhazmi -- first of 19 admitted -- also was issued a visitor's visa, but his term of stay had also expired.

Hani S H Hanjour arrived in December 2000 on a visa for studies, but became illegal when he failed to attend school.

Once in the country, the 19 criss-crossed the country from San Diego to Maine before their attacks.

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