Adam Gadahn, an American spokesman for al Qaeda, has been arrested in Pakistan, a senior Pakistani government official source told CNN.
The official said Gadahn was arrested Sunday in Karachi.
Gadahn, also known as Azzam the American, routinely posts lengthy videos on Islamist online forums. He was born in California.
In December, he released a video message in English offering condolences to “unintended Muslim victims” killed in attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere. It was a rare example of al Qaeda offering condolences to the families of those killed in the group’s own attacks.
In 2006, he was indicted on charges of treason and providing material support to terrorists. The U.S. government has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture. In a 2008 video, he renounced his U.S. citizenship and destroyed his passport.
Earlier Sunday a video was released showing Gadahn praising an Army major of Palestinian descent who is charged with shooting other soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas. The mass shooting “lit a path” for other Muslim service members to carry out such attack, Gadahn said in the video, which was posted Sunday on Islamist web sites.
“I believe that defiant Brother Nidal is the ideal role model for every repentant Muslim in the armies of the unbelievers and apostate regimes,” Gadahn says in English.
Maj. Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist and a U.S.-born citizen, is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder in the November 5 shootings at Fort Hood and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder. Hasan is eligible for the death penalty.
(READ MORE: http://edition.cnn.com/)
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11 Responses
Is this the Jewish kid who lost his mind and joined the terrorists? I remember reading about one.
He was born Pearlman but it is unclear if his mother was Jewish. So, by halacha it’s unclear. Probably culturally Jewish but unaffiliated.
Sad.
I believe his grandparents were jewish.
“Prior to becoming a senior operative, cultural interpreter, spokesman and media advisor for the mirage commonly referred to as al-Qaeda, Adam Yahiye Gadahn was known as Adam Pearlman. Gadahn’s Jewish paternal grandfather, Carl Pearlman, was a prominent urologist and was a “zealous supporter” of Israel. Osama bin Laden, the dead CIA asset, has long called for a holy war against Israel, most recently on January 22, 2009.”
I copied the above from the comments section of a news report.
IF it is true, we have to be VERY cognizant of NOT MAKING A CHILLUL HASHEM. It is very possible that this whole thing will cause a lot of anti-semitism.
If chas v’shalom his mother was Jewish, frum Jews SHOULD NOT defend him from receiving the death penalty. Defending him in any way would cause enormous damage to Jews in America and the world over. He SHOULD NOT be made into another Grossman no matter what! This man has the halachic status of a rodef.
And even if his mother is NOT Jewish, his very existence is a Chillul Hashem because his father is Jewish and Americans (and the rest of the world) only see that his father is Jewish, and therefore consider him to be a Jew who partnered with the enemy. We need to denounce him and call for American and world justice to be served on him. Justice will in all probability mean his being executed.
He looks Jewish.
If he would replace the towel with a streimel, he could easily pass as being Chasidish, (lehavdil elef havdalos)
NorMekabel,
This guy is a big time terrorist. Nobody in the frum velt would ever stick up for him (NK would but I don’t consider them Jewish) I hope they actually caught him but even if it was a different operative, every high level guy that gets arrested is a big accomplishment and certainly deals a blow to Al Qaeda/Taliban. Keep it up!
GENTLEMEN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT YOU SHOULD GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE ACCUSING ONE OF OUR OWN BRETHREN (IF WE CAN CALL HIM THAT) OF COMMITTING SUCH DEMONIC CRIMES. NOT ONLY DOES THE TALMUD SAY WE SHOULD GIVE SOMEONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, IT ALSO SAYS THAT IF SOMEONE STEALS A SHEEP AND SLAUGHTERS IT HE SHOULD ONLY PAY 4X THE AMOUNT BECAUSE HE HAD TO CARRY IT ON HIS BACK, IN CONTRAST WITH THE BULL WHICH HE PAYS 5X. TIZKU LAMITZVOT
#4 yes, preacher jones..
I just heard on CBS radio that it’s not Pearlman, but another American they captured. He’s still running around loose.
#4 are you a poseik. I do not appreciate zealots who constantly yell “chilul hashem”
#4 are you going to be (le elef alfey havdalos)the new poseik for klal yisroel.because if thats the case we are in big trouble my friends.as it states in the gmeorah talmud babli klal yisrol must be as one nation and by you going around and being mevazeh the name of bnei yosrol you are commiting something so wrong.we also know that robono shel olam told us will you accept the torah and we said naseh ve neshma meaning we will do first and than we will hear regardless of the rules we will accept your torah.lets all love each other as one and not pick and choose