Thursday, July 07, 2011
Ahmed Abdulkadir Warsame, believed to be in his mid-20s, was captured in waters between Yemen and Somalia on April 19. He was interrogated aboard a U.S. Navy ship by a special intelligence team for information about al Shabaab and a second group, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Warsame was later turned over to the FBI, which questioned him. He was indicted in New York on weapons charges as well as conspiracy and providing material support to the two groups, which have been designated by the United States as terrorist organizations.
Warsame was allegedly a high-ranking figure. One U.S. official said he was seen as a senior commander for al Shabaab and served as a liaison between his group and AQAP, which Obama administration officials have described as al Qaeda's most worrisome affiliate.
He was "trying to push Shabaab's reach," said the U.S. official, who requested anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.
Al Shabaab has conducted only limited strikes outside of Somalia, notably the twin bombings in Uganda that killed 79 people watching the World Cup final last year.
In contrast, AQAP has made greater efforts to launch attacks on the United States, including sending a suicide bomber onto a U.S. commercial airliner in 2009 with explosives hidden in his underwear.
Additionally, U.S. authorities recently issued a warning that militants have shown renewed interest in trying to surgically implant a bomb inside someone and detonate it aboard a commercial flight. U.S. officials told Reuters that credible intelligence pointed to AQAP.