The Qatari Government Says the Tennessee Shooter Did Not Visit Qatar

The Qatari government says the man identified by the FBI as having carried out the Chattanooga shooting merely transited through Doha’s international airport and “at no time” entered Qatar.

Reports on Monday said U.S. counterterrorism officials were piecing together a trip Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez made to the Middle East in 2014. A source told Reuters he had also traveled to Qatar at least once, although the reasons for the stopover and its duration were unknown.

But a statement released by the Qatari government’s communications team Tuesday claimed such reports were false.

“The individual known as Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez transited through Doha’s Hamad International Airport from Amman, Jordan to the United States in November 2014. At no time did Mr. Abdulazeez enter the State of Qatar.”

The statement continued: “The State of Qatar condemns these criminal acts such as those in Tennessee, which terrorize and kill innocent people. These acts are contrary to all humanitarian values, ethics, principles and religions and emphasize the need for unity and solidarity in order to renounce violence and reject terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whatever its motives and causes.”

Abdulazeez, 24, killed four Marines and wounded three others in attacks on military centers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on July 16. He was shot dead by police the same morning.