Suspect Converted to Islam, Sympathized with hijackers.(NATION)

Beginning of article

Byline: Julia Duin and Larry Witham, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

John Allen Muhammad, the sniper suspect arrested early yesterday, was a convert to Islam who federal sources say sympathized with the September 11 hijackers.

Mr. Muhammad, formerly known as John Allen Williams, was arrested at a rest stop on Interstate 70 at Myersville, Md., along with John Lee Malvo, 17.

Reports said that Mr. Muhammad, 42, converted 17 years ago to the brand of Islam associated with Minister Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam. He changed his name a year ago.

Founded in 1931 by Elijah Muhammad as a black separatist group, the Nation of Islam changed course in 1975 to …