Spaniard’s Photo Used for bin Laden Poster

Lawmaker upset his face was model for new FBI image on al-Qaida leader

Gaspar Llamazares, a member of the Spanish parliament, looks at his picture published on a newspaper next to a picture of how Osama bin Laden might look like today, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. (Photo credit: Javier Lizon / EPA)

Jan. 16, 2010

MADRID — A Spanish lawmaker was horrified to learn that the FBI used an online photograph of him to create an image showing what Osama bin Laden might look like today.

The image using Gaspar Llamazares’ photo appeared on a wanted poster updating the U.S. government’s 1998 photo of the al-Qaida leader. …

The wanted poster appeared on the State Department Web site rewardsforjustice.net, listing a reward of up to $25 million. The FBI said the photo of bin Laden would be removed from the Web site.

Llamazares, former leader of the United Left party, was elected to Spain’s parliament in 2000. The photograph of him used to make the wanted poster originally appeared on posters for his 2004 general-election campaign. …

The Associated Press A composite image shows Osama bin Laden in April 1998, left, and two digitally enhanced and aged images released Jan. 14, 2010 on the U.S. State Department’s Web site rewardsforjustice.net showing what bin-Laden could look like today with a full beard and with his hair trimmed.

Llamazares said he has “no similarity, physically or ideologically” to bin Laden. They do share one trait — both are 52. …

Bin Laden, who is wanted in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya, is believed to be hiding in the lawless Pakistan frontier bordering Afghanistan. His exact whereabouts have been unknown since late 2001, when he and some bodyguards slipped out of the Tora Bora mountains after evading air strikes, special forces and Afghan militias.

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Related report on this site

Osama bin Laden Personality Profile

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