What would make peaceful, tolerant Massachusetts Muslims like Ahmed Abousamra and Tarek Mehanna turn to jihad? Clearly we need to start winning hearts and minds in Massachusetts: give out soccer balls to urchins in Marblehead and Lowell, build schools in Amherst and Worcester and have General John Allen make a video expressing his “deep respect” for the “noble people of Massachusetts.” That will stop the “radicalization” of Massachusetts Muslims in a jiffy — after all, look how well it has worked in Afghanistan.
“FBI offers $50,000 reward for terrorism suspect Ahmad Abousamra, alleged co-conspirator with Tarek Mehanna,” from the Boston Globe, October 3 (thanks to Anne Crockett):
The FBI today asked for the public’s help in locating terrorism suspect Ahmad Abousamra, a former Mansfield resident who allegedly traveled to Pakistan and Yemen to be trained in how to kill American servicemen overseas.
Abousamra was indicted in 2009 along with Tarek Mehanna, a Sudbury man who was sentenced this year to 17½ years in federal prison following his conviction on charges of providing material support to Al Qaeda, including translating terrorist documents into English.
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Abousamra’s capture.
According to the FBI and the indictment filed in US District Court in Boston, Abousamra made multiple trips to Pakistan and Yemen seeking training at terrorist camps during the last decade. The FBI said he also journeyed to Iraq, allegedly with the hope of participating in attacks on the American military.
In 2010, Abousamra and Mehanna were charged in a superseding indictment with an additional single count of conspiring to provide material support to Al Qaeda.
Abousamra, 31, is of Syrian descent and has dual citizenship in the United States and Syria, the FBI said. A native of France, he is now believed to be living in Aleppo, Syria, with his wife, at least one child, and other relatives, authorities said….
Abousamra is fluent in both English and Arabic and has a college degree in computer technology, the FBI said. His known aliases include Ahmad Abou-Samra, Ahmad Abou, Ahmad Abou Samira, Ahmad Samra, Ahmad Abu Samra, and Ahmad Abou Samra.
The FBI is also releasing a video, voice clip and wanted posters in English, French And Arabic to help in the search for Abousamra.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL- FBI or 617-742-5533, via the Internet at https://tips.fbi.gov or by calling their local FBI office, or the nearest US embassy or consulate.