NEW 9/11 THEORY

FBI Agent: Sept. 11 Hijackers Probably Used Gas:

HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - The Sept. 11 hijackers probably used gas or spray such as mace against passengers and crew on the first plane to hit the World Trade Center, an FBI agent told a German court Tuesday.

FBI special agent Matthew Walsh, giving evidence at the trial of Mounir El Motassadeq, the first suspected conspirator to stand trial, said a stewardess on board had said in a telephone conversation that she was having trouble breathing.

Walsh told the court in Hamburg the American Airlines stewardess said a number of people had been stabbed.

"She also stated it was very hard to breathe, so we assume that mace or another gas was used," he said. "Mace is an irritant spray commonly used to ward off assailants.