Posted on 04/13/2006 8:35:16 AM PDT by MikeA
MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan - A high-ranking member of the al-Qaida terrorist network was killed in an airstrike on a remote village in western Pakistan, U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News on Thursday.
Mohsin Musa Matawalli Atwah was among as many as 14 suspected militants who were killed in the attack in the North Waziristan tribal region village of Anghar Kalai, near the Afghan border, the officials told NBC News.
Pakistani intelligence officials said an army helicopter gunship struck the village, but local villagers, speaking to NBC News, claimed a Predator drone firing a Hellfire missile was responsible for the attack.
The Egyptian-born Atwah was one of al-Qaidafs top bombmakers, intelligence officials said. The United States had offered a $5 million reward for the capture of Atwah, who has been accused of training the bombers who attacked U.S. embassies in Tanzanian and Kenya on Aug. 7, 1998.
"He is a significant player, an explosives expert, a bomb maker," one U.S. intelligence official told NBC.
Senior U.S. intelligence officials told NBC they had no comment on the claim that a Predator was responsible for the strike. They directed all questions to Pakistani officials, who deny the villagers' claim.
"I have no comment," one intelligence official told NBC. "But thanks for asking."
At least two children were among those killed in the raid, Pakistani security officials told The Associated Press. The bodies of the militants were buried quickly, the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
The two Pakistani security officials, based in the capital, Islamabad, told the AP that Wednesday's operation targeted Atwah and another al-Qaida militant, identified as Abdul Rahman al-Masri, another bomb-making expert.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Militant? What the hell is a militant? I thought we killed a TERRORIST.
I like "thug". "Terrorist" is getting too respectable.
Besides, isn't Al Qaeda militant a little redundant?
So you thinnk he's getting the virgins?
Every dead al-Qaeda member is a good thing. But after four and a half years, it's inconceivable to me that bin Laden and al-Zawahari are still running around making videos. I'd have assumed under the circumstances that western Pakistan would be entirely under US military control until those two are captured, but no...
So you think he's getting the virgins do you?
They all look like Helen Thomas.
I don't believe Bin Laden and Al-Zawahari are in Pakistan. We nail nearly everyone else who's there so why not them? No, I believe fully that they're in Iran and several Revolutionary Guard defectors have claimed just that, that they actually saw them. They claim Bin Laden goes in and out of Afghanistan from Eastern Iran. Like I say, if they were in Pakistan we'd have nailed at least one of them by now. I really believe they were smart enough to know not even Pakistan would be enough of a safe haven for the world's two most wanted men.
If Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah has the worms crawling inside and outside his rotting body, this is really big:
http://crime.about.com/od/fbimostwantedterrorist/p/atwah.htm
Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah
FBI Most Wanted Terrorist
from FBI
Wanted by the FBI: Conspiracy to kill United States Nationals, to murder, to destroy buildings and property of the United States, and to destroy national defense utilities of the United States.
Description: Born on June 19, 1964 in Egypt, Atwah is a medium build male, approximately 5'3" to 5'7", with dark (but greying) hair and dark eyes, with an olive complexion.
Aliases: Abdul Rahman, Abdul Rahman Al-Muhajir, Abdel Rahman, Mohammed K.A. Al-NamerSponsored Links
Scan FBI Most Wanted List
Scan FBI's List w/ leading Patriot Act compliance solution. Free Trial
www.BridgerInsight.com
FBI Is Hiring
Criminal Justice Degree needed. Get educated and take advantage.
www.degreeusa.com
Want to Work for the FBI?
Many FBI agents earn their Criminal Justice degree first. Start here.
www.criminaljustice-degrees.com
Remarks: Atwah is believed to currently be in Afghanistan.
Caution: Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah is wanted in connection with the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
Reward: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension and/or conviction of Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah.
What to Do: If you have any information concerning this case, please contact your Local FBI Office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
The two Pakistani security officials, based in the capital, Islamabad, told the AP that Wednesday's operation targeted Atwah and another al-Qaida militant, identified as Abdul Rahman al-Masri, another bomb-making expert.
Another big get if it is confirmed he also died.
No, those reports were confusing the name of the dead perp and his alias.
This Islamofascist murdering POS has more names and alias than a cat has lives.
oh ok..confusing isn't it?
Was he another Number 3 guy? They don't seem to last long.
Al Qaeda suspect in Kenya bombing killed -minister
Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:57 PM BST
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - An Egyptian al Qaeda member wanted for his role in the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Kenya was killed by Pakistani forces close to the Afghan border, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Thursday.
The minister named the man as Abdul Rehman, one of the aliases used by Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah, for whom the United States has offered a $5 million reward.
"He was involved in the Kenya bombing," Ahmed said.
Military sources said the al Qaeda guerrilla was killed along with six other Islamist militants in a missile attack by Pakistani Cobra helicopters on their hideout in North Waziristan tribal region just before midnight on Wednesday.
Lorry bombs exploded at U.S. embassies in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on August 7, 1998, killing 224, including 12 Americans, and injuring thousands. All but 10 of the deaths are in Nairobi, where the damage was the worst.
Four men accused of al Qaeda links were sentenced in October 2001 to life imprisonment by a U.S. court for the embassy bombings.
Atwah was indicted by a federal grand jury in New York in December 2000 for conspiracy in the bombings and was previously thought to be in Afghanistan.
Well, I suppose so, but he might have been on one of those al-Qaeda road- and school-building teams that Patty Murray was talking about.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.