Moussaoui was vulnerable to al-Qaida: expert

SEPTEMBER 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui’s isolation from family and social support networks left him vulnerable to recruitment by al-Qaida, an expert on cults told his trial yesterday.

Psychologist Paul R Martin, called by lawyers trying to save Moussaoui from the death penalty, said French Moroccans like Moussaoui generally feel alienated from Western society and his state of mind suffered even more when he left France in 1992 to study business in London.

“He’s away from his family. He’s lonely. He’s complained about racism. He’s in a new country, and he doesn’t have any support group,” Dr Martin said, describing Moussaoui’s move towards radical Islam.