Afghans Turn In Suspect In Cia Murders Details Scarce, But Officials Call Capture In ‘93 Terrorist Attack A ‘Victory For U.S.’

Mir Aimal Kansi, accused of killing two CIA employees and wounding three persons in 1993 outside the spy agency headquarters, has been turned over to the United States by Afghans, the FBI announced Tuesday.

Kansi arrived at Dulles International Airport 35 miles west of here shortly after dusk Tuesday and, under heavy security, was taken by van to the Fairfax, Va., courthouse, where he is to be arraigned Wednesday.

Law enforcement officials said senior U.S. officials had ordered that nothing be disclosed immediately about whether money was paid to catch Kansi. “This is very politically sensitive,” said one official.

The State Department, which had posted a $2 million reward for information on Kansi, called his arrest “an important victory for U.S. efforts to combat terrorism and a message to the world that terrorists have to place to run and no place to hide.”

One of the 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Kansi fled the United States after the Jan. 25, 1993, episode in which a gunman using an AK-47 Chinese-made assault rifle shot at people in cars waiting to turn into the CIA’s Langley, Va., headquarters during the morning rush hour.

Kansi was charged in February 1993 with two counts of capital murder, three counts of assault and one count of illegal possession of a weapon by Fairfax County, Va., authorities. The FBI arrested him on a federal warrant charging flight to avoid prosecution.

Authorities concluded from the start of the investigation that Kansi had acted alone and was not connected with any terrorist organization.

Investigators into the murders soon developed a possible motive for the rush-hour shootings: Kansi was unhappy about the treatment of Muslims in Bosnia and wanted to make a statement by shooting up the CIA, the White House or the Israeli Embassy, investigators said in 1993.

FBI Deputy Director William Esposito gave no detail on the apprehension of Kansi other than to say he “has been delivered abroad by Afghan individuals to the custody of United States authorities.”

He indicated that the FBI, the CIA and the State Department played roles in the arrest without specifying what any of them did.

“The success of this investigation is primarily due to the dedication of the men and women of the CIA and the FBI, as well as our partners in the State Department, who brought skills to bear and successfully coordinated their efforts to make this arrest possible in the face of often overwhelming difficulties,” Esposito said.

Acting CIA Director George Tenet said, “Today’s developments in no way lessen the pain of those wounded on Jan. 25, 1993, nor the despair experienced by the families who lost a loved one, but it is my sincere hope that seeing Kansi brought to justice will provide some small solace.”

CIA employees Lansing H. Bennett, 66, and Frank Darling, 28, were killed in the attack. Two other CIA employees and another man who was sitting in his car were wounded.