*EPF201 04/02/2002
Text: Man Believed to Be Key Al-Qaida Terrorist Has Been Captured
(White House says "significant blow" dealt to al-Qaida) (300)
The White House says Pakistani authorities, supported by U.S. officers, have captured a man believed to be Abu Zubaydah, a key terrorist recruiter, an operational planner, and a member of Usama bin Laden's inner circle.
A statement released by the Office of the White House Press Secretary in Washington April 2 said the suspected terrorist was captured in the Pakistani city of Faisalabad March 28 along with dozens of Pakistani and Arab militants.
"This represents a very significant blow to Al-Qaida," the statement said.
Following is the text of the White House statement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary April 2, 2002
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
We believe that one of the individuals captured by Pakistani authorities in recent raids is Abu Zubaydah, who is a key terrorist recruiter, an operational planner, and a member of Usama bin Laden's inner circle.
Pakistani officials led a series of raids into suspect extremist hideouts in the early morning hours of March 28th. This individual was captured in one of the raids in the town of Faisalabad, along with dozens of Arab and Pakistani militants.
US officers supported this operation, but the raids were both led and carried out by Pakistani authorities.
The individual we believe to be Abu Zubaydah was found at one of the locations originally targeted in the Pakistani raids. He was shot several times as he attempted to escape the raided compound.
He is currently receiving medical attention. For security reasons, we are not going to discuss his location. He will be interrogated about his knowledge of ongoing plans to conduct terrorist activities.
This represents a very significant blow to Al-Qaida.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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