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Jehad Serwan Mostafa
The United States Government is seeking information leading to the location and arrest of Jehad Serwan Mostafa, believed to be the highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting overseas with a terrorist organization.
Raised in San Diego, California, Mostafa for years has worked with the terrorist organization al-Shabaab, which has brought misery and death to innocent people in Somalia and other parts of the Horn of Africa. Al-Shabaab has also targeted American citizens and interests.
In the past decade, Mostafa has held leadership positions with al-Shabaab, including in its explosives department where he uses improvised explosive devices as a tool of terror.
In 2009, the United States indicted Mostafa on three counts of terrorism-related charges. In 2011, the FBI added Mostafa to their Most Wanted Terrorist List; and in 2013, the U.S. Department of State’s Reward for Justice Program offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest.
At a press conference in December 2019, U.S. Attorney for Southern California Robert Brewer and FBI Special Agent in Charge in San Diego Scott Brunner announced the unsealing of a superseding indictment against Mostafa, bringing charges against him for the crimes he committed through February 2017.
Here is FBI Special Agent Brunner:
“We believe Mostafa has played and continues to play an active role in terrorist acts by al-Shabaab and he must be stopped. The FBI and our partners will not stop to work to prevent terrorist acts, including by this indicted terrorist. We’re asking for your assistance. We must continue to disrupt al-Shabaab and their violent attacks.”
Mostafa is believed to be living in Somalia. He is tall, white, and blue-eyed, with a scar on his right hand. He speaks Arabic, Somali and English. He may visit Yemen, Ethiopia, Kenya and other African countries.
If you have information concerning Jehad Serwan Mostafa, please call 1-800-225-5324, or submit tips online to tips.fbi.gov. You may also contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
All information will be kept strictly confidential.