Although neither the terrorists’ families nor their countries of origin have asked for the body parts to be repatriated, America is split over what to do.
Some believe the remains should be treated with respect. But many of the families of the victims say the killers should be left for eternity under lock and key.
Although the FBI has been able to name and release photographs of all the terrorists, the agency is refusing to reveal which of the men’s remains it has recovered.
Of the 10 who took part in the attack on New York, ringleader Mohammed Atta is the most recognisable but it is not known whether he is one of those whose body parts were recovered.
The fact that any remains were identified from the carn–age of Ground Zero is testament to the skill and dedication of Robert Shaler, who was head of New York’s Department of Forensic Biology at the time.
In the days after 9/11 he promised the victims’ fam–ilies that he would try to separate what was left of the hijackers from the people they had killed.
Initially, Professor Shaler, 66, thought his 100-strong team would only be able to identify remains larger than a thumb.
The team eventually ana–lysed 21,743 fragments, some no bigger than a fingernail, and were able to put a person’s name to 12,595 parts.
The families of more than 1,622 of the dead have been reassured that at least some of their loved ones’ remains can be given a funeral.
The authorities were able to confirm who died using DNA provided by relatives.
Professor Shaler said: “They did not want the terrorists mixed in with their loved ones. These people were criminals and they did not deserve to be with the innocent victims. No one knows what will happen, but I don’t think they should be buried on American soil.”
Kurt Horning, whose 26-year-old son Matthew died in the New York attacks, said: “It would be sadly ironic if the hijackers ended up being properly buried or sent to a Muslim country when many of the remains of the victims are buried in a garbage dump.”
Additional reporting by Paul Thompson
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/79402/Exclusive-Remains-of-9-11-killers-found