American claiming to be hunting bin Laden arrested

[Nina~ 431]

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – An American armed with a pistol and a 40-inch (102-centimeter) sword was detained in northern Pakistan and told investigators he was on a solo mission to kill Osama bin Laden, a police officer said Tuesday.

The man, identified as 52-year-old Californian construction worker Gary Brooks Faulkner, said he wanted to cross over into the nearby Afghan province of Nuristan because he had "heard bin Laden was living there", according to officer Mumtaz Ahmad Khan.

Faulkner was picked up in a forest in the Chitral region late on Sunday, he said.

"We initially laughed when he told us that he wanted to kill Osama bin Laden," said Khan. But he said when officers seized the pistol, the sword, a dagger and night-vision equipment, "our suspicion grew."

He was questioned Tuesday by intelligence officials in Peshawar, the main northwestern city.

Faulkner told police he visited Pakistan seven times, and this was his third trip to Chitral, which is a mountainous region that attracts adventurous Western tourists and hikers. Unlike much of northwestern Pakistan, it is considered relatively safe for foreigners.

Chitral and Nuristan are among several rumored hiding places for the al-Qaida leader, who has evaded a massive U.S. effort to capture him since 2001. The focus of that hunt has been along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

Bin Laden is accused of being behind the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, as well other terrorist acts. Washington has offered a bounty of $25 million for information leading to his capture.

Khan said Faulkner was also carrying a book containing Christian verses and teachings.

When asked why he thought he had a chance of tracing bin Laden, Faulkner replied, "God is with me, and I am confident I will be successful in killing him," said Khan.

Faulkner arrived in the Chitrali town of Bumburate on June 3 and stayed in a hotel there.

He was assigned a police guard, as is quite common for foreigners visiting remote parts of Pakistan. When he checked out without informing police, officers began hunting for him, said Khan.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said the mission had received notification from Pakistani officials that an American citizen had been arrested. He said embassy officials were trying to meet the man and confirm his identity.

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[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There's always some nut who thinks he's Captain Bloody America.

Edited June 15, 2010 by Its a MADHOUSE

[Darnell 8,478]

What's the bounty now ? 5 mil ? 10 mil ?

If he knows his stuff, he's got a chance.

'not getting caught by the po-po', though, is sure sign he not 'know his stuff'.

[Heracles 417]

50 million.

[alienlovechild 75]

What's the bounty now ? 5 mil ? 10 mil ?

If he knows his stuff, he's got a chance.

'not getting caught by the po-po', though, is sure sign he not 'know his stuff'.

A 52-year-old construction worker from California armed with a sword and handgun who thinks he can behead Bin Laden isn't someone I'd bet on for completing that mission impossible.

[Darnell 8,478]

alien - oh - I'd bet, just on the double down negative.

Is sad, though, he didn't build a krewe of local Christians in Pakistan.

[IndigoSkies 168]

lol

52 years old = old bored geezer with nothing to do

[Nagishkaw 510]

lol

52 years old = old bored geezer with nothing to do

I guess racial and religious discrimination are taboo, but age discrimination is perfectly acceptable.

[Captain Oates 910]

I guess racial and religious discrimination are taboo, but age discrimination is perfectly acceptable.

52 is pretty young - I was still doing the discos and successfully too.

How would he get him back through customs though ? Unless his head will do - that would go in hand luggage and look like a word cup souvenir on x-ray

I think the US gov should put the 25 mill in escrow with BP then we know they will pay up

[john & jean 37]

I think the CIA should upgrade his weapons, and get him cut loose :thumbs:

[Captain Oates 910]

I think the CIA should upgrade his weapons, and get him cut loose :thumbs:

US has all the weapons in the world but they are useless if they can't find him..

I reckon he is in the US and posting as John Kerry - here's the evidence

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/John_Kerry_headshot_with_US_flag.jpg/387px-John_Kerry_headshot_with_US_flag.jpg

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I think the CIA should upgrade his weapons, and get him cut loose :thumbs:

word

[spookyturtle 9,465]

If the Mafia wanted bin Laden he would have been dead years ago.

[trillium13 84]

52 years old = old bored geezer with nothing to do

52 is hardly old.

This dude obviously has a touch of teh crazy.

Edited June 17, 2010 by trillium13

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

What do they expect? There IS a reward, you know. Give him a machine gun and send him back to the hunt