Washington, DC /eNewsChannels/ — The following is the text of a joint Rewards for Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation statement on a new initiative to update existing photos of terrorism suspects: The U.S. Department of State and FBI are starting the New Year with newly enhanced photos of terrorist suspects on their most wanted lists. Using sophisticated digital enhancement techniques, forensic artists at the FBI’s laboratory in Quantico, Virginia have “age progressed” old photos of 18 terrorist suspects listed on the State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) website (www.rewardsforjustice.net). Fourteen of these suspects also are being sought by the FBI.
The RFJ program is offering monetary rewards for information leading to the apprehension and/or conviction of these suspects. FBI forensic artists modified the suspects’ facial features to show what they might look like today. In other cases, their features have been modified to show how they might appear with different grooming and clothing choices. Federal investigators hope these updated images will enable the public to better identify these wanted suspects.
“It is our hope that these digitally enhanced images will help someone recognize these terrorist suspects and then contact the Rewards for Justice program with information that leads to their apprehension,” said Robert Eckert, assistant director for Diplomatic Security’s Threat Information and Analysis Directorate, which oversees the Rewards for Justice program.
“These new images are powerful examples of how advances in technology and science can be used to help find and bring to justice wanted persons,” said Louis E. Grever, Executive Assistant Director for the FBI’s Science and Technology Branch.
“The FBI has and will continue to apply cutting-edge forensic, biometric, and technical capabilities to our most challenging cases. Together with our many partners, both here and abroad, we now call on the public to help us locate and take into custody those who threaten us.”
The updated photos and information about RFJ’s terrorist suspects may be viewed on the Rewards for Justice website: (www.rewardsforjustice.net).
We encourage anyone with information on these suspects to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, any U.S. military commander, or the Rewards for Justice office via the website (www.rewardsforjustice.net), e-mail (RFJ@state.gov) or mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, DC 20520-0303, USA).
All information will be kept strictly confidential.
Photos and information on some of these suspects also may be viewed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist website at http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/terrorists/fugitives.htm.
Since its inception in 1984, the Rewards for Justice Program has paid more than $80 million to more than 50 persons who provided credible information that has resulted in the capture, prosecution, or death of terrorists or prevented acts of international
