Hijacker Disappears On Prison Release

Sun., March 3, 1996

Compiled From Wire Services

The Palestinian convicted of killing an American aboard the hijacked Achille Lauro cruise ship 11 years ago has disappeared while on a prison release, a newspaper reported Saturday.

Youssef Magied al-Molqi was last seen at a church-run shelter on Wednesday, the day he was to return to the Rebibbia prison in Rome, Il Messaggero reported. He had been free on a 12-day pass.

Molqi, 34, was serving a 30-year sentence for his role in the 1985 hijacking. He was convicted of shooting Leon Klinghoffer, a wheelchair-bound American Jew, and pushing him overboard.

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Hijacker Disappears On Prison Release

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