By Amita Sharma
The State Department is offering a $5 million reward for former San Diegan Jehad Mostafa.
U.S. officials say Mostafa has led Al Shabab’s foreign fighters and served as a media expert for the Al Qaeda-affiliated group. A federal grand jury in San Diego indicted Mostafa in 2009. He was accused of conspiring to provide material support to Al Shabab and he occupies a place on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list. San Diego FBI Spokesman Darrell Foxworth said the $5 million reward by the State Department is aimed at gathering information on Mostafa.
“We hope that by the State Department’s providing the funds in this case will generate some leads here that will assist us in locating Mr. Mostafa,” Foxworth said.
Mostafa was raised in San Diego. He worshiped at the Al Ribat Mosque in La Mesa when former Al Qaeda figure Anwar al Awlaki worked as an imam there. The U.S. government assassinated Awlaki in a drone strike in 2011. The State Department is also offering a $5 million reward for former Alabama resident Omar Hammami, who reportedly helped recruit English speakers to fight for Al Shabab.