The Federal Bureau of Investigation is on the hunt for a Mansfield man who is accused of seeking terrorist training in Yemen and Pakistan in an effort to kill American soldiers overseas.
Ahmad Abousamra, 31, is believed to be currently living in Syria with his wife and daughter, according to the FBI. He left the United States in 2006 and was indicted in 2009.
Abousamra is the co-conspirator of Tarek Mehanna, the Sudbury man who was convicted on similar charges and sent to prison earlier this year.
The FBI launching a significant public information campaign today about the hunt for Abousamra. Besides the traditional wanted poster, the agency is distributing or making available a podcast, audio clips and video. It is also using its Facebook and Twitter accounts to hopefully generate tips and is using limited advertising on a social media website to target an overseas demographic.
“Conspiring to use force or violence to achieve a political or social goal violates our cherished ideal of peaceful dissent. Our goal is to find and arrest Abousamra so he can be tried by a jury of his peers,” said Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the Boston FBI office. “We believe publicizing Abousamra’s photo and characteristics will lead to a tip about his whereabouts and, ultimately, to his arrest.”
Anyone with information can call 800-CALL-FBI.
The FBI video can be viewed below:
