FBI Alert For Saudi Terror Suspect
The FBI issued a worldwide alert Thursday for Adnan G. El Shukrijumah, a 27-year-old Saudi national believed to be plotting terrorist attacks as part of al Qaeda.
CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart reports El Shukrijumah, who has used as many as six aliases, may either be in the United States or headed for the United States. Officials say he may have last been seen in Miami. His current whereabouts are unknown.
The FBI is asking for help from law enforcement officials as well as the public in locating El Shukrijumah, who is described as about 5-foot-4 and 132 pounds or heavier. He may or may not be wearing a beard.
Although born in Saudi Arabia, the FBI says El Shukrijumah carries a Guyana passport and could attempt to enter the United States with a Saudi, Canadian, or Trinidad passport as well.
The FBI's "Be on the Lookout" (BOLO) alert did not specify the nature of the threats El Shukrijumah may pose to U.S. interests. One FBI official said El Shukrijumah only recently came to the agency's attention, but the official did not say how.
The alert came as the FBI intensified its effort to interview thousands of Iraqi-born individuals living in the United States to uncover any potential terrorist attacks planned by Iraqi operatives or sympathizers and to protect them from any hate crimes.
The FBI also was actively investigating "others who have links to terrorism," including potential al Qaeda members or sympathizers in America.
Several thousand FBI agents were being diverted from regular duties to do the interviews and man command posts at each of the bureau's 56 field offices to gather intelligence and respond quickly to any terrorist threats. A national command center was set up at FBI headquarters in Washington.
"We are bringing to bear the full weight of our resources, expertise, and partnerships," FBI Director Robert Mueller said. "We are running down every lead, responding to every threat, coordinating with every partner, and doing our utmost to keep terrorists from striking back."
The FBI has new authority from Attorney General John Ashcroft to arrest people on immigration charges if they are believed to post a wartime threat. Officials declined to say Thursday if any such arrests had occurred since the onset of war with Iraq.