FBI Most Wanted Terrorists

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File:Mostwantedterrorbanner.jpg
Banner used by the FBI since inception on October 10, 2001, as the main title for the web site pages of both the group of wanted terrorists, and also on the wanted poster of each suspected terrorist fugitive. The three overlapping seals on the left are the seal of the U.S. Department of State (similar to the Great Seal of the United States) and the seal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation while on the right is the seal of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The FBI Most Wanted Terrorists is a list created and first released on October 10, 2001, with the authority of United States President George W. Bush, following the September 11 attacks (9/11 incident). Initially, the list contained 22 of the top suspected terrorists chosen by the FBI, all of whom had earlier been indicted for acts of terrorism between 1985 and 1998. None of the 22 had been captured by US or other authorities by that date. Of the 22, only Osama Bin Laden was by then already listed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

No particular legal consequences flowed from the creation of and inclusion on the list. On January 17, 2002, the FBI released a third major FBI wanted list, which has now become known as the FBI Seeking Information – War on Terrorism list, to enlist the public's help in reporting information which may prevent future terrorist attacks. The information sought to be reported is not necessarily relating to any person on any of the FBI wanted lists.

Initial persons alleged to be terrorist fugitivesEdit

On the fugitive group wanted poster, the FBI did not list the persons in any particular stated order, except perhaps for the consistent placing of bin Laden in the number one position of the top row. However, the 22 can easily fit into distinct categories over the two decades, based on the terrorist attacks in which they were, according to US authorities, involved.

For organization and ease of reference here, the 22 on the list are grouped by the attack for which they were placed on the list.<ref name="List Released">Template:Cite news</ref>

Photo Name Alleged terrorist activity Date of activity Status
Imad Mughniyeh TWA Flight 847 June 14, 1985 Killed
Killed on February 12, 2008, by a car bomb that was detonated by the Mossad and the CIA as he passed by on foot in Damascus, Syria.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Ali Atwa TWA Flight 847 June 14, 1985 Deceased
Died of cancer in Lebanon in October 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Hassan Izz-Al-Din TWA Flight 847 June 14, 1985 At large
Abdul Rahman Yasin 1993 World Trade Center bombing November 17, 1996 At large
Accused of constructing bombs in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Yasin was allegedly a prisoner of Saddam Hussein in 2002, but has since gone missing from Iraq. He was not located during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Bojinka plot 1994–1995 Captured
Captured in Pakistan on March 1, 2003.
Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Mughassil Khobar Towers bombing June 25, 1996 At large
Al-Mughassil was reportedly captured in Lebanon on August 7, 2015, and extradited to Saudi Arabia.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> However, he was not taken into US custody and is still wanted by the FBI.
Ali Saed Bin Ali El-Hoorie Khobar Towers bombing June 25, 1996 At large
Ibrahim Salih Mohammed Al-Yacoub Khobar Towers bombing June 25, 1996 At large
Abdelkarim Hussein Mohamed Al-Nasser Khobar Towers bombing June 25, 1996 At large
Alleged by the U.S. government to be the leader of Hezbollah Al-Hejaz.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Mohammed Atef 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Killed in Afghanistan on November 14, 2001, by a Predator missile attack on his home outside of Kabul.
Osama bin Laden 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Killed by U.S. Navy Seals in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan; announced dead May 2, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was placed on the Most Wanted Terrorists list for his involvement in the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.<ref name="List Released"/>
Ayman al-Zawahiri 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Osama bin-Laden's successor as Al-Qaeda's chieftain, Ayman al-Zawahiri was under indictment in the United States for his suspected role in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. The Rewards for Justice Program of the U.S. Department of State was offering a reward of up to US$25 million for information about his location and capture.<ref name=fbioeqan>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> On July 31, 2022, he was killed by a drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan carried out by the U.S.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref> He is listed as deceased by the FBI.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Fazul Abdullah Mohammed 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Reports surfaced on June 11, 2011, that he was killed in Somalia.<ref name=oophinb>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> Kenyan police stated, through DNA testing, that they were certain he was killed by Somalian forces on June 8.<ref name=oophinb/> Officially listed as deceased on the FBI website by June 12.<ref name=fbioeqan/>

Mustafa Mohamed Fadhil 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Killed in Afghanistan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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}}</ref> He was removed from the list in May 2005.

Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Killed January 1, 2009, in an unmanned aerial strike in Pakistan along with Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan.<ref name="Two">Template:Cite news</ref>
Ahmed Ghailani 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Captured
Captured in Pakistan on July 25, 2004, and later held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Ghailani was tried by a civilian court in New York in 2010 and convicted of conspiring to bomb the American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. The jury however acquitted him of all other 284 charges, including attempted murder.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Killed January 1, 2009, in an unmanned aerial strike in Pakistan along with Fahid Mohammed Ali Msalam.<ref name="Two"/>
Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Abdullah, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Masri, was reported to have been killed in Tehran, Iran on August 7, 2020, by Israeli Mossad operatives working on behalf of the United States government. His death was reported 3 months later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His death was confirmed by the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on January 12, 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Abu Anas al-Libi 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Died in captivity
Al-Libi was captured in Tripoli, Libya on October 5, 2013, by Delta Force commandos.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Abu Anas al-Libi died on January 2, 2015, at a hospital in New York, aged 50, while in United States custody. He had liver disease as a result of hepatitis C.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Saif al-Adel 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 At large
Believed to be the current de facto leader of al-Qaeda as of 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Reported as killed in a drone strike in 2010 in Pakistan by the National Counterterrorism Center.<ref name="UPI022111">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was removed from the list in 2012.

Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah 1998 United States embassy bombings August 7, 1998 Killed
Killed April 12, 2006, along with 6 other alleged militants by Pakistani forces in a helicopter gunship raid on the village of Naghar Kalai near the Afghan border. Villagers reported that armed men removed the bodies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> Atwah's death was confirmed by US officials on October 24, 2006, following DNA testing, and he was removed from the list.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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}}</ref>

FBI Seeking Information – War on Terrorism listEdit

Whereas the Most Wanted Terrorists list is reserved for terrorist fugitives who have been indicted by federal grand juries, the FBI recognized a further need to achieve a much quicker response time in order to prevent any future attacks which may be in the current planning stages. To enlist the public's help in this effort, the FBI sought a way to deliver the early known suspected terror attack information, often very limited, out to the public as quickly as possible. So, on January 17, 2002, the third major FBI wanted list was first released, which has now become known as the FBI Seeking Information – Terrorism list.

As the name of this list implies, the FBI's intent is to acquire any critical information from the public, as soon as possible, about the suspected terrorists, who may be in the planning stages of terror attacks against United States nationals at home and abroad. The first such list profiled five persons about whom little was known, but who were suspected of plotting terrorist attacks in martyrdom operations. The main evidence against the five was five videos they had produced, found in the rubble of Mohammed Atef's destroyed home outside Kabul, Afghanistan.

Additions to the listEdit

By 2006, more than four years had passed since the FBI had listed the original 22 alleged terrorists on the Most Wanted Terrorist list. Of those 22, by then four had been qualified for removal from the list, due to death or capture. Also by then, the FBI determined that other people qualified for the list. Some were indicted for attacks and plots that had taken place since the original list had been compiled. The original indictments had been for incidents only through 1998. The US had been victim to at least two significant terror attacks, which had generated new indictments, notably:

In addition, after the original 2001 list had been compiled and released to the public, the US had foiled and issued indictments for numerous other plots, involving some new listed Most Wanted Terrorists. Those notable other plots involved:<ref name="release">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In February 2006, the FBI completed two groups of additions to the Most Wanted Terrorists list, the first additions in over four years. On February 24, 2006, the day after adding two names to the list, the FBI added an additional six fugitive terrorists, for various plots and attacks. One of the entries was for an indictment dating back to the June 14, 1985, hijacking of TWA flight 847 by Hezbollah (see above).

Additionally, the FBI also added to the Seeking Information – War on Terrorism list an additional three people, most notably, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.<ref name="24threlease">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This marked the first time that al-Zarqawi had appeared on any of the three major FBI wanted lists. On June 8, 2006, ABC News reported that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was confirmed to have been killed in Baghdad in a bombing raid by a United States task force. His death was confirmed by multiple sources in Iraq, including the United States government.

Photo Name Alleged terrorist activity Date of activity Date added to list Status
Jamal Ahmad Mohammad Al Badawi USS Cole bombing October 12, 2000 February 23, 2006 Killed
Rewards for Justice offered $5 million for information leading to his capture or conviction.<ref name=fbioeqan /> He was killed in a drone strike on January 1, 2019, in Ma'rib Governorate, Yemen.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Jaber A. Elbaneh Buffalo Six Sometime in 2002 February 23, 2006 At large
Surrendered to Yemeni authorities on May 20, 2007.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, after serving a 5-year sentence there, he was not given into US custody and is still wanted by the FBI.
Mohammed Ali Hamadei TWA Flight 847 June 14, 1985 February 24, 2006 Killed
Arrested by West German police on January 13, 1987, and released on December 15, 2005.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> Rewards for Justice was offering $5 million for information leading to his capture or conviction.<ref name=fbioeqan /> He was killed outside his home in Lebanon by unknown gunmen on 21 January 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah Palestinian Islamic Jihad, on RICO Since 1995 February 24, 2006 Deceased
Wanted for conspiracy to conduct the affairs of the designated international terrorist organization known as the "Palestinian Islamic Jihad". Shalah died on June 6, 2020, in Lebanon after a long illness.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Abd Al Aziz Awda Palestinian Islamic Jihad, on RICO Since 1995 February 24, 2006 At large
Co-founder of the PIJ.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani Abu Sayyaf kidnaps and murders in the Philippines Early 1990s – 2000s (decade) February 24, 2006 Killed
Died of gunshot wounds on September 4, 2006. Philippine marines found the remains of his body on December 27, 2006. Death was confirmed by DNA testing on January 20, 2007.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Listed as deceased as of January 22, 2007. Removed from list as of February 21.
Jainal Antel Sali Abu Sayyaf kidnaps & murders in the Philippines Early 1990s – 2000s (decade) February 24, 2006 Killed
Killed by Philippines special forces on January 16, 2007.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Isnilon Totoni Hapilon Abu Sayyaf kidnaps & murders in the Philippines Early 1990s – 2000s (decade) February 24, 2006 Killed
Killed by the Philippine Army on October 16, 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Adam Yahiye Gadahn Treason 2003–2015 October 11, 2006 Killed
Gadahn was removed by the FBI from the Seeking Information – War on Terrorism list on October 11, 2006, and placed instead on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list.<ref>American Al-Qaeda Member Gadahn Charged With Treason by U.S., Bloomberg, By Robert Schmidt, October 11, 2006</ref> Also, on October 11, 2006, Gadahn was indicted on a treason charge by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana, California making him the first American charged with treason since 1952.<ref>American Al Qaeda Member to Be Indicted for Treason, Fox News, October 12, 2006</ref> Rewards for Justice offered $1 million for information leading to his capture.<ref name=fbioeqan /> He was killed in a drone strike in Pakistan on January 19, 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Daniel Andreas San Diego Chiron and Shaklee bombings August 28, 2003
September 26, 2003
April 11, 2009 Captured
San Diego was added to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list in connection with two Animal Liberation Brigade bombings in Northern California in 2003. He is the second United States citizen, and the first domestic terrorist, to appear on the list.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}Template:Cbignore</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref> News reports suggest he was captured in Wales, UK on November 25, 2024.

Fahd al-Quso USS Cole bombing October 12, 2000 November 2, 2009 Killed
Sought for his role in the October 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, in which 17 American sailors were killed.<ref name="two names">Template:Citation</ref> Rewards for Justice offered $5 million for information leading to his capture or conviction<ref name=fbioeqan /> He was killed in a drone strike in Yemen on May 6, 2012.
Husayn Muhammed al-Umari Pan Am Flight 830 August 11, 1982 November 2, 2009 At large
Also known as Abu Ibrahim, is wanted in connection with the 1982 bombing of Pan Am Flight 830.<ref name="two names"/><ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Wadoud Muhammad Hafiz Al-Turki Pan Am Flight 73 September 5, 1986 December 3, 2009 At large
Wanted for his role in the hijacking of Pan American World Airways Flight 73.<ref name="Hijackers">Template:Citation</ref> Convicted in Pakistan in 1988, but allegedly deported to Palestine in 2009.<ref name="PanAmTimeline">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref name="PanAmTNIE">Template:Cite news</ref>

keft Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim Pan Am Flight 73 September 5, 1986 December 3, 2009 At large
Wanted for his role in the hijacking of Pan American World Airways Flight 73.<ref name="Hijackers"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> Convicted in Pakistan in 1988, but allegedly deported to Palestine in 2009.<ref name="PanAmTimeline"/><ref name="PanAmTNIE"/> Pakistani officials claimed that he was killed on January 9, 2010, by a U.S. airstrike, but the reports have never been confirmed and he is still on the list.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Muhammad Abdullah Khalil Hussain Ar-Rahayyal Pan Am Flight 73 September 5, 1986 December 3, 2009 At large
Wanted for his role in the hijacking of Pan American World Airways Flight 73.<ref name="Hijackers"/> Convicted in Pakistan in 1988, but allegedly deported to Palestine in 2009.<ref name="PanAmTimeline"/><ref name="PanAmTNIE"/>
Muhammad Ahmed Al-Munawar Pan Am Flight 73 September 5, 1986 December 3, 2009 At large
Wanted for his role in the hijacking of Pan American World Airways Flight 73.<ref name="Hijackers"/> Convicted in Pakistan in 1988, but allegedly deported to Palestine in 2009.<ref name="PanAmTimeline"/><ref name="PanAmTNIE"/>
Adnan Gulshair el Shukrijumah 2009 New York City Subway and United Kingdom plot September 2009 July 8, 2010 Killed
Wanted for his alleged role in the plot against New York City's subway system, uncovered in September 2009.<ref name="Shukrijumah">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> He was killed in a manhunt operation by Pakistan Army in South Waziristan on December 6, 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki (born Omar Shafik Hammami) Membership in al-Shabaab November 2006 – June 2013 November 14, 2012 Killed
Joined al-Shabaab in 2006 and became one of its top leaders.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> After splitting from the organization in June 2013, he was killed by its militants on September 12 of that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Radullan Sahiron Kidnapping for Abu Sayyaf November 14, 1993 November 14, 2012 At large
Alleged leader of Abu Sayyaf since 2005.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> Wanted for a particular kidnapping in 1993, but believed to be responsible for other abductions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Assata Shakur (née JoAnne Deborah Byron, married name JoAnne Chesimard) Murder of Trooper Werner Foerster May 2, 1973 May 2, 2013 At large
Former Black Liberation Army member openly living in Cuba after she escaped from a New Jersey prison in 1979. Two million dollar reward offered.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Ahmad Abousamra Attempting to obtain terrorist training 2002–2004 December 18, 2013 Killed
Wanted for travelling to Pakistan and Yemen between 2002 and 2004 in order to receive terrorist training.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> Killed by an airstrike in Syria in January 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Liban Haji Mohamed Recruitment for al-Shabaab Since July 5, 2012 January 29, 2015 At large
Alleged to have departed the U.S. on July 5, 2012, to join al-Shabaab, and to have acted as a recruiter for the organization.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref> Detained by Somali authorities on March 2, 2015, but is still on the list.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Ahlam Tamimi Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing August 9, 2001 March 14, 2017 At large
Arrested and imprisoned in Israel, but freed as part of the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Sajid Mir 2008 Mumbai attacks November 26, 2008 – November 29, 2008 March 22, 2019<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> At large
Arrested by Pakistani authorities on April 21, 2022, then convicted and sentenced to fifteen-and-a-half years in prison on May 16 of that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was not extradited and remains on the list as of February 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

RewardsEdit

Since 1984, the United States government has also used the Rewards for Justice Program, which pays monetary rewards of up to $25 million, or now, in some cases more, upon special authorization by the United States Secretary of State, to individuals who provide information which substantially leads to countering of terrorist attacks against United States persons. More than $100 million had been paid to over 60 people through this program.<ref name="RFJ">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Rewards for Justice Program was established by the 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism, Public Law 98-533, and is administered by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, within the U.S. Department of State.<ref name="RFJ"/>

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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