Confusion Surrounds Arrest of U.S.-born al-Qaeda Spokesman (Not Gadahn)

[tekisui]

Source: Digital Journal

Reports that Adam Gadahn, a 31-year-old convert to Islam and spokesman for al-Qaeda who was born Adam Pearlman in the U.S., has been arrested by Pakistani intelligence agents have yet to be verified.
Known also as Azzam the American, according to CNN, Adam Gadahn's supposed arrest on Sunday in Karachi, a city in Southern Pakistan which is the largest in the South Asian country, is awaiting confirmation.
Indeed CBS News, quoting the New York Times, is saying that the person arrested is not Gadahn, who uses too the names Yahya Majadin Adams and Azzam al- Amriki, but instead is Abu Yahya Mujahdeen Al-Adam, allegedly another member of the Sunni Islamist group al-Qaeda, born in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
CBS News claims to have spoken to a Pakistani security official and to have been advised that the person detained is:

a Taliban militant leader who is known as Abu Yahya

and:

In the light of our latest information, I can say, this is not looking like Gadahn. But it is still the arrest of an important Taliban militant

That "latest information" appears to have come from U.S. officials.

more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/288707

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The Pakistani source and he US source both claim it was a Taliban militant. There are many connected to the name Abu Yahya. But, this arrest seems to be Taliban, not Al-qaeda. And, likely not Gadahn.

[tekisui]

1. Qaeda Operative Arrested in Pakistan (Not Gadahn)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — An operative of Al Qaeda believed to be an American was arrested in the sprawling southern city of Karachi in recent days by Pakistani security officials, Pakistani officials said Sunday.

American and Pakistani officials said the man arrested was Abu Yahya Mujahdeen al-Adam, who was described as having been born in Pennsylvania and who was thought to be affiliated with the operations division of Al Qaeda, commanding fighters in Afghanistan.

One American official briefed on the arrest described the operative in custody as fair-skinned and someone who spoke both English and Pashto.

Little else was known about him, American officials said, and it was not immediately clear that American officials were involved in the arrest. There was no confirmation that the arrested man was in fact an American.

Initial reports seemed to have confused him with Adam Gadahn, a California native who has been a Qaeda spokesman and often appears on videos calling for strikes against targets in the United States.

Senior administration officials said on Sunday that they did not believe the arrest was of Mr. Gadahn. For hours, information was difficult to confirm from Pakistan. President Obama was briefed on news reports of the arrest, but later learned they were most likely not correct.

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