How Bin Laden Funds His Network

The day before the World Trade Center attack, someone had a bad feeling about American Airlines. Chicago's options exchange usually gets bullish and bearish orders in equal numbers, but on Sept. 10, there was heavy betting that American's stock was headed down. On the first day of trading after the attack, the company's stock plummeted 40%--and the investors who guessed right made millions.

But was it a guess? The short selling, as it's called, of airline and insurance stocks just before the attack has prompted a chilling theory: betting against his victims is Osama bin Laden's latest fund-raising tactic. An international...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!