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Thursday, 24 October, 2002, 07:58 GMT 08:58 UK
Man sought in sniper case
![]() The sniper killings have sparked a massive search
US authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a man wanted for questioning in connection with the sniper attacks which have killed 10 people in the Washington DC area.
Police said they were looking for John Allen Mohammed, also known as John Allen Williams, and his stepson. Officers said they were both armed and dangerous.
Chief Moose also issued another direct message to the sniper during a news conference. Yard searched Earlier, FBI agents conducted a major search at a house in Tacoma, Washington state, which is 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) from the capital. Mr Mohammed is believed to have served in the army at a base near Tacoma and to have lived in the house. Fort Lewis, to the south of the town, provides some of the most intensive sniper training in the US military, correspondents say.
"It looks like an archaeological dig there with tapes running the full length of the yard," one resident said. A spokesman for Fort Lewis base could not confirm if Mr Mohammed had lived at the address.
In another development, police are investigating a possible link between the sniper and a killing in Montgomery, Alabama, according to the news agency AFP. A 52-year-old woman was shot and killed outside a liquor store there on 21 September. Another woman was wounded. Folk tale clue At the press conference late on Wednesday, Chief Moose delivered a cryptic message. "You asked us to say, 'We have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose'. We understand that hearing us say this is important to you. However we want you to know how difficult it has been to understand what you want."
"Let's talk directly," the police chief continued. "We have an answer for you about your option. We are waiting for you to contact us." That may refer to the snipers' demands for $10m apparently left in a note at the scene of one of the shootings. Since 2 October, 10 people have been killed and three others wounded in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC in apparently random attacks. 'No expense spared' The US Government has agreed to give $600,000 to schools in the area to strengthen security. President George W Bush said local police would have "the full resources of the federal government" to help catch the killer. "There is a ruthless person on the loose. We pray for a quick end to this period of violence and fear," he said. Police confirmed on Wednesday that 35-year-old bus driver Conrad Johnson, shot on Tuesday morning, was the sniper's latest victim. In their appeal for witnesses, police have stressed that any immigrants should not hold back information for fear of police investigating their status. Chief Moose has offered to set up a private post office box "or another secure method" for the sniper to contact police. |
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23 Oct 02 | Americas
23 Oct 02 | Americas
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