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Home / World

The FBI's 22 most-wanted terrorists

10 Oct, 2001 10:27 PM7 mins to read

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WASHINGTON DC - The United States unveiled a list of its most-wanted suspected terrorists this morning (NZT) and announced new rewards for information about the 22 men that it said should all be considered "armed and dangerous".

President George Bush said that by publicising their pictures, he was "robbing them of their secrecy" and increasing the pressure on them.

"Terrorists try to operate in the shadows, they try to hide. But we're going to shine the light of justice on them," he added, speaking at the headquarters of the FBI in Washington.

"These 22 individuals do not account for all of the terrorist activity in the world, but they're among the most dangerous, the leaders and key supporters, the planners and strategists. They must be found. They will be stopped, and they will be punished.

Osama bin Laden

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Trained by the CIA to help fight the Soviets in Afghanistan, the Saudi-born millionaire is now the focus of Operation Enduring Freedom being carried out by the US and UK. He is blamed by the US for the September 11 attacks and named by Tony Blair as the leader of the al-Qaeda network. The wanted poster says the 41-year-old Mr bin Laden is believed to be in Afghanistan. It adds: "He is left-handed and walks with a cane."

Ayman al-Zawahiri

Said to be a mentor to Osama bin Laden, al-Zawahiri is a physician and the founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. This terrorist organisation opposes the secular Egyptian Government and seeks its overthrow through violent means. Al-Zawahiri is believed to now serve as an adviser and doctor to bin Laden. Currently thought to be in Afghanistan. Has been indicted for his alleged role in the August 7, 1998, bombings of the US Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya.

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Muhammad Atef

Also known as Abu Hafs El-Masry El-Khabir, this Egyptian is said to be Osama bin Laden's second-in-command in respect to al-Qaeda. A former policeman, he has been identified by US intelligence as the network's key military strategist. He is 6 ft 6 in tall and speaks Arabic. Indicted for the East African embassy bombings.

Fazul Abdullah Mohammed

Mohammed likes to wear baseball caps and tends to dress casually. He is very good with computers, says the wanted poster. Born in Moroni, Comoros Islands, he speaks French, Swahili, Arabic, English, and Comoran. Mr Mohammed was indicted over the East African bombings. Aged in his mid-20s, he has used around 20 aliases.

Mustafa Mohamed Fadhil

Born in Cairo. Speaks Egyptian, Arabic, Swahili, and reads English. Holds both Egyptian and Kenyan citizenship. Fadhil was indicted for the East African bombings. Said to be another al-Qaeda operative. Black, short and curly hair. Born on June 23, 1976.

Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam

Msalam sometimes wears a light beard or moustache and has, in the past, worked as a clothing vendor. Born in Mombasa, Kenya, on February 19, 1976. Speaks Arabic, Swahili, English. Indicted for embassy bombings. Aliases include Fahid Mohammed Ally, Fahid Mohammed Ali Musalaam, Fahid Mohammed Ali Msalam, Fahid Muhamad Ali Salem, Mohammed Ally Msalam, Usama Al-Kini, Fahad Ally Msalam.

Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani

Indicted for the embassy bombings. Born in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Uses four different dates of birth. Aged between 27-31. Aliases include: Abubakary Khalfan Ahmed Ghailani, Mahafudh Abubakar Ahmed Abdallah Hussein, Shariff Omar Mohammed, "Foopie", "Fupi", "Ahmed the Tanzanian". Speaks Swahili. Weighs 150 lbs.

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Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan

Swedan sometimes wears a light beard or moustache and has, in the past, managed a trucking business in Kenya. Speaks Arabic, Swahili, and English. Indicted for the embassy bombings. Born in Kenya. Aliases include: Sheikh Ahmad Salem Suweidan, Sheikh Ahmed Salem Swedan, Sheikh Swedan, Sheikh Bahamadi, Ahmed Ally, Bahamad, Sheik Bahamad, Ahmed the Tall. Uses more than one date of birth.

Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah

Abdullah fled Nairobi, Kenya on August 6, 1998 and went to Karachi, Pakistan. He is believed to currently be in Afghanistan. He may wear a moustache. Indicted for embassy bombings. Born in Egypt in 1963. Speaks Arabic. Mr Abdullah has a scar on the right side of his lower lip.

Anas al-Liby

Al-Liby recently lived in the United Kingdom, where he has political asylum. He is believed to currently be in Afghanistan. Al-Liby usually wears a full beard. Wanted over the embassy bombings. Born in 1964 in Tripoli, Libya. Speaks Arabic and English. Has a scar on the left side of his face. Olive complexion.

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Saif al-Adel

Born on April 11, 1963, in Egypt. Speaks Arabic. Al-Adel is thought to be affiliated with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), and is believed to be a high-ranking member of the al-Qaeda organisation. He is thought to be currently in Afghanistan. He is wanted over the embassy bombings.

Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali

Ali may have formal training in agriculture and may have worked in this field. He lived in Kenya until fleeing that country on August 2, 1998, to Karachi, Pakistan. He is believed to currently be in Afghanistan. Ali is wanted over the embassy bombings. Believed to be aged about 36. Aliases include: Shuaib, Abu Islam Al-Surir, Ahmed Ahmed, Ahmed The Egyptian, Ahmed Hemed.

Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah

Born in 1964 in Egypt. Aliases include: Abdul Rahman, Abdul Rahman Al-Muhajir, Abdel Rahman, Mohammed K.A. Al-Namer. Atwah is believed to currently be in Afghanistan. Wanted in connection with the embassy bombings.

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Ahmad Ibrahim al-Mughassil

Born in Bab Al Shamal, Saudi Arabia on June 26, 1967. Speaks Arabic and Farsi. Is wanted over the bombing of the Kohbar military housing complex in Saudi Arabia in Dharan, Saudi Arabia, in June 1996. Twenty-nine US airmen were killed and 280 were left injured. Has been indicted for the attack.

Ali Saed Bin Ali El-Hoorie

Born on July 10, 1965, in El Dibabiya, Saudi Arabia. El-Hoorie has a mole on his face. Indicted over the Kohbar bombing. Is 5'2" tall and weighs 130 pounds.

Ibrahim Salih Mohammed al-Yacoub

Born on October 16, 1966, in Tarut, Saudi Arabia. Speaks Arabic. Height: 5'4". Weight: 150 pounds. Complexion: Olive. Indicted over the Kohbar bombing.

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Abdelkarim Hussein Mohamed al-Nasser

Born in Al Ihsa, Saudi Arabia. Indicted over the Kohbar bombing. Date of birth unknown. Charged with: Conspiracy to kill US nationals, Conspiracy to murder US employees, Conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, bombing resulting in death.

Alid Shaikh Mohammed

Born in either 1965 or 1964. Mohammed is known to wear either a full beard or a trimmed beard, or he may be clean shaven. He has been known to wear glasses. A Kuwaiti national, he is wanted over a plot, based in Manila, The Philippines, to bomb 12 commercial US airliners flying routes from Southeast Asia in January of 1995.

Abdul Rahman Yasin

An American citizen, born in Bloomington, Indiana. Wanted for his alleged participation in the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York in 1993 in which six people were killed and a number of others were injured. Yasin is an epileptic and possibly has a chemical burn scar on his right thigh.

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Ali Atwa

Said to be a member of Lebanese Hezbollah. He is thought to be in Lebanon. Indicted for involvement in hijacking of TWA flight 847 on June 14, 1985, which was diverted to Beirut while flying from Athens to Rome. US Navy diver Robert Stethem was beaten and then shot to death and his body dumped on the tarmac.

Hasan Izz-al-Din

Said to be a member of Hezbollah. He is thought to be in Lebanon. Indicted over the 1985 TWA incident. Aliases: Ahmed Garbaya, Samir Salwwan, Sa-id. Born in 1963.

Imad Fayez Mugniyah

Said to be head of security for Hezbollah. He is thought to be in Lebanon. Wanted over the TWA hijacking. Born in 1962. Uses the alias Hajj.

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-

INDEPENDENT

Map: Opposing forces in the war against terror

Afghanistan facts and links

Full coverage: Terror in America

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