American al-Qaida Fugitive Reported Captured in Pakistan

Pakistani intelligence agents say they have arrested Adam Gadahn, the American-born al-Qaida spokesman who has been wanted by the FBI since 2004.

The Associated Press quotes two intelligence officers and a government official, all of whom declined to be identified, as saying Gadahn was captured in the southern city Karachi in recent days. CNN reported a Pakistani intelligence officer it contacted confirmed the arrest. None of the officials discussed the circumstances of Gadahn's capture. The United States has not commented on the reported arrest.

Several senior militant commanders including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Afghan Taliban's second in command, have been detained in Pakistan in recent weeks. The arrests have led to speculation that Pakistan's intelligence agency is now cracking down on militant groups.

Adam Gadahn often appeared in al-Qaida videos calling for attacks against the United States and other western countries. His most recent statement posted on Islamist militant forums on Sunday praised the U.S. Army major charged with killing 13 people in Fort Hood, Texas. Gadahn praised the gunman as a role model for other Muslims.

Gadahn grew up in California and converted to Islam at a nearby mosque.

The FBI says he moved to Pakistan in the late 1990s, and several years later attended an al-Qaida training camp. He later served as a translator and consultant for the terrorist network.

The 31-year-old American is known by various aliases including Yahya Majadin Adams and Azzam al-Amriki.

Some information for this report provided by AP.