A 28-year-old Californian who joined al-Qaeda and appeared in propaganda videos for the terrorist organization was indicted yesterday on federal charges of treason and providing material support to terrorists.
A grand jury in Orange County returned the indictment against Adam Yehiye Gadahn, 28, a suspected al-Qaeda operative sought by the FBI since 2004 and believed to be in or near Pakistan. It was the first time an American was charged with treason since the World War II era, federal officials said.
Enemy of the state
Gadahn "knowingly adhered to an enemy of the United States, namely, al-Qaeda, and gave al-Qaeda aid and comfort ... with intent to betray the United States," according to the indictment.
Based on the indictment, the FBI added him to its list of most wanted terrorists and offered a US$1 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
Gadahn is believed to have attended the terrorist group's training camps in Pakistan and served as one of its translators. He has become known by his nom de guerre Azzam al-Amriki, or "Azzam the American."
Al-Qaeda video
Gadahn appeared last month in a 48-minute video along with al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, calling on his countrymen to convert to Islam and for US soldiers to switch sides in the Iraq and Afghan wars.
It was the second time he appeared in a video with al-Zawahri. In a July 7 video marking the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack in London, Gadahn appeared briefly, saying no Muslim should "shed tears" for Westerners killed by al-Qaeda attacks.
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