FBI claims fingerprints tie American to terror attacks

except when they don't.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=5211180

Releases Man Linked to Madrid Train Bombing
Thu May 20, 2004 07:37 PM ET

By Chris Stetkiewicz
SEATTLE (Reuters) - An Oregon man held behind bars for two weeks for questioning about a deadly train bombing in Madrid was released on Thursday amid reports the evidence linking him to the blast was found to be false.

Brandon Mayfield, an American lawyer who converted to Islam, was detained in Portland, Oregon, after a single fingerprint on a bag with detonators found near a Madrid train station was said to match his.

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The Spanish could not find a fingerprint link in their initial search. The Americans thought the lawyer's prints matched 15 points versus the Spaniards opinion only 8 points matched in their fingerprint pattern. Now the Spaniards had a news conference and announced they found a person (Algerian? immigrant) whose prints matched the bag on *two* fingers. They told the Americans, who released the lawyer, but told him not to say anything, and reserved the right to charge him with anything at a later date.
I think they were ashamed to admit they made a mistake.