A Saudi national suspected of terror links by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has turned himself in to Saudi security forces in Riyadh, his father said.
Abdul Aziz al-Rasheed, father of Saud al-Rasheed, said that his 21-year-old son returned from vacation in Egypt on Thursday and immediately went to the security authorities.
"He is still with the Saudi security authorities," two days after surrendering, the father told AFP. "He has turned himself in because he is confident he is innocent and we are confident of the fairness of the Saudi authorities," the father added.
He categorically denied that his son has undergone any military training or has ever had any links with Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network or any other organization.
Nearly a year after the Sept. 11 attacks, the FBI published a worldwide bulletin Tuesday night seeking the detention of a Saudi man newly identified as a suspected associate of the hijackers. The bulletin issued to law enforcement across the globe sought the immediate arrest of Saud A.S. al-Rasheed, 21, of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The FBI said the sudden bulletin was based on information developed over the last few days, and it warned police al-Rasheed should be considered armed and dangerous. "On Aug. 15, 2002, material previously recovered during the war on terrorism were found to be related to several of the Sept. 11 hijackers," the FBI said.
The materials included an image of a Saudi Arabian passport belonging to al-Rasheed which had been issued in Riyadh in May 2000. "Al-Rasheed's current whereabouts are unknown," the FBI bulletin said. "Al-Rasheed is suspected to be associated with the September 11, 2001 hijackers," the bulletin said.
Two senior law enforcement officials, told AP Tuesday night that al-Rasheed's picture was found among pictures of several hijackers in materials obtained overseas some time ago and recently reviewed at the FBI. The materials were included on a computer CD-ROM, the officials said.
FBI spokesman Bill Carter said Al-Rasheed's photograph turned up along with pictures of some of the hijackers in materials recently reviewed by the FBI.
Several government officials said the FBI does not believe al-Rasheed is in the United States at the present time. Law enforcement agencies overseas were advised to contact the local U.S. embassy if they have information regarding his whereabouts.
"If you have information concerning this individual, please contact your local FBI office, law enforcement agency, or the United States Embassy nearest you," the alert said.
(Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
