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FBI withdraw Osama 'wanted' photo... as it's really a Spanish MP
By Tom Worden 17/01/2010
Red-FACED American officials have withdrawn a photofit mugshot of terror chief Osama bin Laden - after admitting they used a Spanish politician's face.
The "wanted" image of the al-Qaeda leader as he might look now without his trademark long beard and turban was posted on the internet by the FBI.
But it was based on a photograph of Communist MP Gaspar Llamazares found on Google by an FBI technician who was dissatisfied with his collection of photofit facial features - and launched a web search, keying in "faces" with "Islamic names".
The technician at the FBI's laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, used the MP's hair and forehead for the picture put on a State Department webpage with an offer of a $25million reward last week. FBI assistant director Louis E. Grever hailed it as a "powerful example" of how technology and science can be used to bring wanted people to justice.
But embarrassed FBI spokesman Karl Hoffman apologised yesterday for the bungle. He said: "It's totally irregular and totally outside the established process."
Mr Lamazares, who has been critical of America's war on terror, has demanded an explanation. A spokesman for his United Left coalition said: "We don't believe in coincidences."
By Tom Worden 17/01/2010
Red-FACED American officials have withdrawn a photofit mugshot of terror chief Osama bin Laden - after admitting they used a Spanish politician's face.
The "wanted" image of the al-Qaeda leader as he might look now without his trademark long beard and turban was posted on the internet by the FBI.
But it was based on a photograph of Communist MP Gaspar Llamazares found on Google by an FBI technician who was dissatisfied with his collection of photofit facial features - and launched a web search, keying in "faces" with "Islamic names".
The technician at the FBI's laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, used the MP's hair and forehead for the picture put on a State Department webpage with an offer of a $25million reward last week. FBI assistant director Louis E. Grever hailed it as a "powerful example" of how technology and science can be used to bring wanted people to justice.
But embarrassed FBI spokesman Karl Hoffman apologised yesterday for the bungle. He said: "It's totally irregular and totally outside the established process."
Mr Lamazares, who has been critical of America's war on terror, has demanded an explanation. A spokesman for his United Left coalition said: "We don't believe in coincidences."
