NATION NEWS

Trinidad, Guyana alert for terrorist
Published on: 9/5/06.


ONE OF THE WORLD'S most wanted terrorists, Al Qaeda operative Adnan Gulshair Muhammad el Shukrijumah, may be hiding in Trinidad and Tobago or Guyana and has, in his possession, a T&T passport.

Shukrijumah, 31, is one of the most wanted terrorists by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which said he was "wanted in connection with possible terrorist threats against the United States".

He has several "personal ties" to both Trinidad and Guyana, theFBI said, according to an Los Angeles Times Sunday. US law enforcement described the elusive terrorist as an "ultimate sleeper agent".

The LA Times report quoted FBI sources as saying that Shukrijumah could be anywhere, including Trinidad and Guyana, because of his ties in both places and the fact that he is believed to have passports of both countries. The FBI also believes that Shukrijumah may attempt to enter the United States using a Trinidad passport.

Several Muslims in the twin island republic have already been questioned by the FBI about their links to Shukrijumah.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin told the DAILY NATION that although no official request was made to his department, to date there was no record that the wanted terrorist had entered or had passed through any of Barbados' ports of entry.

He noted that since Shukrijumah was blacklisted locally, there would have been automatic checks done on the fugitive.

Yesterday, Trinidad law enforcement officials said they were aware that Shukrijumah was in Trinidad and confirmed they were contacted by the FBI for assistance in the matter.

However, they declined to go further into the matter "because of its nature".