A reward of up to $5 million each for information leading to the apprehension or conviction of two American citizens on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list was announced yesterday by the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program and the FBI.
The bulletin from the State Department and the FBI stated that Omar Shafik Hammami and Jehad Serwan Mostafa moved to Somalia in 2006 to join al Shabaab, the Somalia-based, al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organization. Both are wanted for conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, which includes their significant contributions to al Shabaab’s media and military activities. Both men are currently believed to be in Somalia.
American terrorist Omar Shafik Hammami, a.k.a. Abu Mansour al-Amriki or Farouk, is a United States citizen and former resident of Alabama. In 2006, Hammami moved to Somalia where he joined and received training from Islamist militants. In 2007, Hammami began serving as a propagandist for al-Shabaab, helping to recruit English-speaking youth through his writings, rap songs, and televised statements. He also served as a military leader for al-Shabaab, and he at one time led foreign fighters under Jehad Mostafa.
Al-Shabaab was the militant wing of the Somali Council of Islamic Courts that took over most of southern Somalia in the second half of 2006. Al-Shabaab has continued its violent insurgency in southern and central Somalia.
In 2011, Vanguard/Current TV correspondent, Christof Putzel filmed a documentary, "American Jihadi - Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki of Omar Shafik Hammami".
Putzel profiled Oamr’s life beginning in Daphne, Alabama to his Islamic terrorist activities in Somalia.
The second American terrorist on the list is Jehad Serwan Mostafa, a.k.a. Ahmed Gurey, Anwar al-Amriki, or Emir Anwar; is a United States citizen and former resident of California. He has performed various functions for al-Shabaab, including acting as a training camp instructor and a leader of foreign fighters. He is also skilled in the group’s media activities. Mostafa is an American citizen who lived in San Diego, California before moving to Somalia in 2005. He may have or is likely to visit the following areas: Somalia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Kenya, and other African countries.
Mostafa is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List, and is sought by the FBI for his alleged terrorist activities. On October 9, 2009, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Mostafa in the United States District Court, Southern District of California. Mostafa was charged with the following crimes: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists; conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
In February 2012, al-Shabaab and al-Qaida announced their formal alliance.
The FBI and U.S. State Department stated that anyone with information about these individuals should contact the Rewards for Justice office in one of the following ways by visiting rewardsforjustice.net; by way of email at RFJ@state.gov, or by calling 1-800-877-3927.
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