ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən, hiː sˈɔː ɑːsˈɑːmə bˈɪn lˈeɪdən ɪn pˈæsɪŋ, ænd klˈeɪmz tə hɐvnˈɑːt "mˈɛt" hˌɪm ænd ˈoʊnli ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪzd hˌɪm fɹʌm ɐ dˈɪstəns sˈɪns hiː wʌzɐ nˈoʊɾəbəl ˈæntaɪsˈoʊviət faɪnˈænsiɚ.
In 1987, he saw Osama bin Laden in passing, and claims to have not "met" him and only recognised him from a distance since he was a notable anti-Soviet financier.