Washington D.C. Cab Driver On FBI Most Wanted List, Accused Of Recruiting For Al Qaeda

Washington D.C. cab driver Liban Haji Mohamed has been placed on the FBI most wanted terrorists list. The Virginia man, who used to drive a cab around Capitol Hill, was allegedly recruiting for al Qaeda-linked al Shabab. The FBI has offered up to a $50,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspected terrorist.

The Liban Haji Mohamed arrest warrant was ordered unsealed by the U.S. District Court in Alexandria on Thursday. Mohaed, 29, is a native of Somalia but is now a naturalized United States citizen. His younger brother, Gulet Mohamed, has been challenging his placement on the no-fly list for the past four years. A hearing on the younger brother’s case is scheduled to be heard in Virginia.

Liban Haji Mohamed was reportedly an “aggressive advocate” in the Gulet Mohamed case. The man now on the FBI most wanted terrorist list reportedly felt the FBI was harassing his younger brother. Gulet Mohmed was “detained” in Kuwait and ultimately barred from getting on a plane destined for America. His family feels that he then went into hiding to avoid further “harassment” from federal agents.

“Al Shabab has killed Liban’s uncle and imprisoned his cousins. His family believes the allegations have no basis in fact,” Gadeir Abbas, Gulet Mohamed’s attorney said.

FBI spokeswoman Lindsay Ram said the federal agency had no comment on either case.

Liban Mohamed has been charged with “providing material support to al Qaeda and al Shabab.” Some court records in the case, which detail additional charges against the accused terrorist, remain under federal seal.

The FBI currently believes that Mohamed left the United States bound for Africa. While working as a Washington D.C. cab driver, Mohamed lived in Fairfax County, Virginia. The FBI feels that Mohamed is a “key target” due to his extensive knowledge of the nation’s capital and could aid al Shabab in planning an attack in the area.

“It is important for us to locate Mohamed because he has knowledge of the Washington D.C., area’s infrastructure such as shopping areas, metro, airports, and government buildings, This makes him an asset to his terrorist associates who might plot attacks on U.S. soil,” Carl Ghattas, special agent in charge of the Counterterrorism Division at the FBI’s Washington Field Office, said.

Liban Mohamed is one of 31 individuals now considered the most wanted terrorists by the FBI.

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[Image via: Taxi Fare Finder]