American in Egyptian Custody Is Allegedly Part of Terrorist Recruitment Network for Iraq

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December 12, 2006 6:52 PM

U.S. Officials and diplomatic sources have confirmed the identity of an American citizen detained in Egypt last week in a series of terrorism arrests there.

Members of an alleged recruitment and travel network trying to send foreign fighters into Iraq was disrupted by Egyptian security services last week. Those arrested included European and North African citizens plus one American, identified as James Warren Gray V, a U.S. citizen from Ohio.

FBI agents have visited members of the Gray family in Ohio, U.S. officials tell ABC News. 

Other members of the group include nine men from France, two Belgians as well as individuals from Tunisia, Egypt and Syria. It is believed the individuals were part of a recruitment network to send jihadist recruits to fight against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and are linked to members of al Qaeda in Iraq, according to U.S. intelligence officials.

According to media reports out of the region, the French and Belgian citizens had been deported back to their home countries. Members of the group were allegedly studying at universities in Egypt.

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U.S. consular officials were granted access to Gray on Dec. 7, and reported that he was being well-treated.

The U.S. is attempting to secure Gray's release from Egyptian custody. "I think that the expectation is that he would leave Egypt," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Monday.

It is unclear if the FBI's legal attaché at the embassy has interviewed Gray yet.  U.S. officials say that they have no indication charges will be filed anytime soon, but Gray is still under investigation by Egyptian authorities.

An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment on the case. According to one U.S. official, Gray was not on any terrorism watch lists at the time of his arrest.