Washington, D.C.
The FBI concluded that a tip that five Middle Eastern men had infiltrated the United States on Christmas Eve was a hoax, ABC News reported this week. Sources told ABC that an informant, Michael Hamdani, fabricated the story after he was arrested in Canada last October and charged with dealing in forged passports. He faces similar charges in the U.S., and allegedly hoped to avoid jail by squealing. American authorities launched a national search for the five suspects, identified as Abid Noraiz Ali, 25; Mustafa Khan Owasi, 33; Iftikhar Khozmai Ali, 21; Adil Pervez, 19; and Akbar Jamal, 28. The FBI posted mug shots on the Internet. A jeweler in Pakistan said he was the man in one of the photos, although he had never traveled to North America.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The elite falcon trade in the Middle EastUnder the Radar Popularity of the birds of prey has been ‘soaring’ despite doubts over the legality of sourcing and concerns for animal welfare
-
A running list of the international figures Donald Trump has pardonedin depth The president has grown bolder in flexing executive clemency powers beyond national borders
-
Mixed nuts: RFK Jr.’s new nutrition guidelines receive uneven reviewsTalking Points The guidelines emphasize red meat and full-fat dairy
