John O'Neill was counterterrorism chief in the FBI's New York field office before retiring last month and becoming head of security at the World Trade Center. He is believed to have died yesterday after going back inside one of the burning towers to help victims, according to former FBI official Robert Blitzer.
O'Neill spent the last several years heading massive investigations into Saudi extremist Osama bin Laden, whom U.S. intelligence officials consider the prime suspect in yesterday's attacks.
O'Neill's 31-year career ended under a cloud. FBI sources confirmed last month that he was under investigation for leaving a briefcase of classified information unattended in a Tampa hotel last year. The briefcase was recovered.
Among his colleagues, O'Neill was regarded as one of the FBI's smartest counterterrorism officials -- and one of the most pugnacious. He clashed with the U.S. ambassador in Yemen, Barbara K. Bodine, during his investigation into the bombing of the USS Cole.
O'Neill warned in 1997 that several Islamic groups labeled by the State Department as terrorist organizations were operating in this country. Shortly after taking control of the New York unit, he said, "A lot of these groups now have the capability and the support infrastructure in the United States to attack us here if they choose to."
-- Vernon Loeb
