A suspected hijacker in the US terror attacks asked officials how to get a government loan to buy a crop-dusting plane, it emerged today.
The man - Mohamed Atta, who is believed to have flown the first plane into the World Trade Centre - reportedly asked about the loan at a Department of Agriculture office and at least one bank last year.
Crop-dusting planes have been grounded in the US amid fears that the terrorist gang behind the September 11th attacks were planning to use them to spray nerve agents, or other chemicals.
FBI agents found a manual on crop-dusting in a suspected terrorist hideout and have asked crop-dusters to report any unusual or suspicious purchases of dangerous chemicals.
Another man arrested as part of the terror attacks probe had downloaded "a significant amount of information" about crop-dusting and pesticides from the Internet", US Attorney General John Ashcroft said.
"We have no clear indication of the time or place of any such attack," he said.
Mr Atta and several other men made repeated visits to Belle Glade State Municipal Airport in Florida earlier this year and asked crop-dusting pilots about fuel, chemicals and flying techniques, the Washington Postreported.
The Agriculture Department and FBI refused to comment on the report.
PA