FBI Seeks 5 Men in Terrorism Probe

WASHINGTON â€”  The FBI said Sunday that it was seeking information about five men who may have entered the United States illegally on Christmas Eve and who possibly have knowledge of terrorist activities.

FBI officials appealed to the public for help in finding the men, who are of interest because of information developed through investigations into terrorism.

In a posting featured on its Web site (www.fbi.gov) Sunday, the FBI displayed color photographs of the men, who were tentatively identified as Abid Noraiz Ali, 25; Iftikhar Khozmai Ali, 21; Mustafa Khan Owasi, 33; Adil Pervez, 19; and Akbar Jamal, 28. The photos appear over the words “War on Terrorism.�

“Although the FBI has no specific information that these individuals are connected to any potential terrorist activities, based upon information developed in the course of ongoing investigations, the FBI would like to locate and question these persons,� the bureau’s announcement said.

The FBI provided no further details, but CNN reported that the men may have entered the United States through the border with Canada.

Officials at the Immigration and Naturalization Service also had little to disclose Sunday. Dan Kane, an INS spokesman, said only that the immigration agency has “implemented additional measures to look for these individuals.�

It was not clear under what circumstances the men may have illegally entered the country. Inspectors at U.S. ports of entry rely on watch lists, which include names of suspected terrorists that intelligence agencies are supposed to provide. Inspectors also have access to consular data from State Department computers, which include information on visa applications and photographs taken overseas.

Visas to enter the United States are granted by the State Department, although nationals of many countries, including much of Europe, do not need them.

The INS has long been maligned for doing an inadequate job of policing the borders.

In its news release, the FBI cautioned that the names and ages of the men sought may be fictitious. The bureau said it was working with the Customs Service, INS and Transportation Security Administration to hunt for the men. The bureau noted that information “has also been disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement agencies around the United States and throughout the world.�

“Anyone with any information pertaining to these individuals is asked to contact their nearest FBI office,� the FBI said.

The report of the possible illegal border crossing comes three years after U.S. authorities captured a terrorist who planned to bomb Los Angeles International Airport during celebrations surrounding New Year’s Day in 2000. Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian national tied to a Montreal terrorism network with links to the Middle East, was caught at the Washington border with Canada in a car filled with explosives on Dec. 14, 1999.

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Public’s assistance requested

Below are the five men being sought by the FBI on suspicion of entering the United States illegally on Christmas Eve. The FBI cautions that the names may be fictitious.