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Fighting terror
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2003
The FBI Thursday issued a worldwide alert for a suspected al-Qaida terrorist who has been living in Florida for years and was last seen in South Florida just days ago.
Adnan G. Elshukrijumah, 27, is a native of Saudi Arabia traveling with a passport from Guyana but allegedly has used several aliases and passports from Canada, Trinidad and Saudi Arabia.
He is described as being about 5 feet 4 and weighing about 132 pounds with black hair and black eyes. He previously was arrested for domestic violence, child abuse and traffic offenses in Broward County.
The FBI asked for help in locating Elshukrijumah and described him as someone who is "possibly involved with al-Qaida terrorist activities and, if true, poses a serious threat to U.S. citizens and interests worldwide."
Elshukrijumah is believed to have received flight training, possibly in Florida.
A senior law enforcement official told the Associated Press that the FBI believes Elshukrijumah's organizing capabilities are comparable to those of Mohammed Atta, the suspected organizer of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers involved in terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001, were from Saudi Arabia and several received flight training and lived in South Florida.
Officials say information about Elshukrijumah surfaced after the arrest of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, a senior al-Qaida leader captured in Pakistan earlier this month.
Florida officials learned of Elshukrijumah's existence in an early morning telephone call from the FBI to Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne and officials at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Jenne said deputies assisted federal authorities in interviewing Elshukrijumah's parents and spend most of the day searching the community where he has been living.
"This is a locale that is very diverse with a large Muslim population," Jenne said. "We're looking at some leads but don't know whether he is still in the area."
Jenne said 50 detectives combed the area looking for witnesses who might have seen Elshukrijumah.
Elshukrijumah was reportedly seen in the area in the past few days, but could not be located Thursday.
Public records indicate Elshukrijumah obtained a Florida driver's license in 1997, a Social Security number in New York the same year, and has lived in Miramar, Pembroke Pines and Hollywood, all in Broward County.
At various times he apparently has driven a Ford Taurus station wagon, a Ford Thunderbird and a Buick LeSabre.
One neighbor at a Miramar apartment complex where Elshukrijumah once lived said she knew people in an apartment near her were of Middle Eastern origin, but had not met them.
"Most of the residents here are African-American or Jamaican," said Mrs. A.C. Sharpe.
Broward records show that Elshukrijumah was first accused of driving 70 mph in a 55-mph zone June 7, 1996. He was ticketed again for speeding Sept. 15, 1996; and again for running a red light, causing an accident and having no proof of insurance Sept. 20, 1997, and for failure to wear a seat belt Nov. 12, 1998.
He was charged with domestic battery and cruelty toward a child Oct. 12, 1997. Both charges were later dropped by prosecutors.
He is believed to have several relatives in addition to his parents living in Broward. He has used many aliases, including Adnan G. El Shukri Jumah, Abu Arif, Ja'far Al-Tayer, Jaffar Al-Tayyar, Jafar Tayar and Jaafar Al-Tayyar.
-- Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.