Egyptian limousine driver identified as LA airport gunman

Police in Los Angeles have searched the apartment of the Egyptian limousine driver identified as the gunman who opened fire at the city's international airport on Independence Day, killing two people.

Officers took away a computer, books and binders from the home of Hesham Mohamed Hadayet, who was a legal resident in the California suburb of Irvine, about 35 miles south of LAX where he launched his attack at the ticket counter of Israel's national airline before being shot dead by one of El Al's own security guards.

Despite initial fears that the shooting may have been linked to terrorism, the FBI said yesterday there was no evidence of any such link. Indeed, with the absence of any clear motive, officers are left investigating the possibility that Mr Hadayet bore some sort of personal grudge against the airline or the airport. The circumstances have been made even more curious by the fact that Mr Hadayet's drivers licenses indicate he was born on 4 July.

"We've never said it's not terrorism", said an FBI spokesman, Matt McLaughlin, "We can't rule that out but there's nothing to indicate terrorism at this point."

Mr Hadayet's neighbours in Irvine, from where the gunman ran a limousine service, Five Star Limo, were unable to throw much light on the matter of what had motivated him. They described him as a quiet man, whose only aggressive outburst happened after an upstairs neighbour hung large American and Marine Corps flags from a balcony above his front door after 11 September.

A neighbour, Steve Thompson, said: "[Mr Hadayet] complained about it to the apartment manager. He thought it was being thrown in his face." Other neighbours said Mr Hadayet moved to the US from Egypt 10 years ago and he and his wife and two children aged 8 and 11 "kept themselves to themselves". Anthony Martinez, 25, whose nephew attended school with one of Mr Hadayet's sons, eight-year-old Omar, said: "The boy was really friendly."

Egyptian police visited the Cairo home of Mr Hadayet's father yesterday and questioned his wife, Hala, who was there with the couple's two children.

Hassan Mostafa Mahfouz, a relative, told reporters he was baffled by Mr Hadayet's involvement in the shootout.

"I was surprised and upset by this news. I felt that he could not do that. I don't believe what happened. I don't believe the American government's reports because they are confusing." He said the family was waiting for confirmation from the American Embassy about Mr Hadayet's involvement. "We want to be sure if he is behind the attack."

Mr Hadayet was happy in the United States he added. "He wanted to get US citizenship. He had only this year remaining (before he qualified for it)."

Born in Cairo, Mr Hadayet studied commerce at Ain Shams University in the city. He worked as an accountant in a bank before he emigrating to the United States.

"He is a very, very tender person and close to his family," Mr Mahfouz said.

Whatever his motives, Mr Hadayet entered Los Angeles airport on Thursday carrying a .45-calibre semi-automatic Glock pistol, a 9 mm handgun and a 6-inch knife. "He had extra ammunition and magazines ready to go," Mr McLaughlin said.

El Al ticket clerk, Victoria Hen, 25, and Yakov Aminov, 46, a jeweller and father-of-eight who was dropping off a friend at the airport, were fatally shot before two El Al guards overwhelmed the gunman.

The two security guards were injured, one hit on the forehead with the butt of the gun and cut on the right arm, and the second stabbed on the leg. A woman was wounded; and another woman in the queue suffered heart problems.

El Al said yesterday it was satisfied with its security arrangements – regarded by many as the most rigorous in the world. Procedures had already been tightened recently said a airline spokesman.

Security includes armed guards at check-in, sky marshals and extensive luggage searches. Passengers are obliged to arrive three hours for security checks if they are flying on an El Al aircraft.

Stringent security has foiled hijackings and attempts to put bombs aboard El Al planes but the airline has found shooting attacks difficult to prevent.

In December 1985, Palestinians opened fire and threw grenades at passengers at the El Al check-in counters at airports in Rome and Vienna, killing 18 people.