ISLAMABAD, May 24: A leading Al Qaeda member, who had a $5 million bounty on his head and is wanted in Spain for possible links to the 2004 bombings, has been handed over to US agents, Pakistani intelligence officers said on Wednesday.
Ideologue and strategist Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, also known as Abu Musab al-Suri, a Syrian holding a Spanish passport, was handed over to US agents at least two months ago after being caught in Pakistan last year, they said.
“I can confirm that Abu Musab al-Suri is no more under detention in Pakistan,” a source told Reuters.
“Suri was handed over to the Americans,” he said, adding he was handed over in March this year after repeated demands by the United States.
Washington has not confirmed Nasar is in US custody.
Nasar’s arrest has never been officially confirmed by the Pakistani government. But Pakistani intelligence officials said Nasar was caught in the southwest city of Quetta on Oct. 31 after a gunbattle.
