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Look-alike Arrested Twice; Close But No Bin Laden

April 30, 2007 9:54 AM

Lookalike_arres_mn_2An Afghan tribesman with an uncanny resemblance to Osama bin Laden has now been arrested twice, both times following reported sightings and massive manhunts for the al Qaeda leader, Pakistani intelligence officials tell ABC News.

Over six feet tall and with the same angular nose as bin Laden, Sher Akbar comes from an Afghan village, Bagh e Metal, in an area where U.S. officials believe bin Laden has been hiding.

Bin Laden is believed to be six feet four inches to six feet six inches tall and weigh 160 pounds. He is 50 years old.

The most recent arrest of bin Laden's near-twin came after Afghani officials reported informants saw bin Laden moving across the border into Pakistan, near the town of Chitral. 

"We arrested this man as a result of this investigation, but it's not who you might think it is," a senior Pakistani intelligence official told ABC News, providing a photograph to make his point.

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The official said an extensive investigation involving Pakistani and U.S. intelligence officers found that the look-alike has no connection to bin Laden, but that local residents had tried to collect rewards based on Akhbar's resemblance to bin Laden.

The United States has offered a $25 million reward for information that leads to the location of bin Laden.

April 30, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (67)

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I wonder how many people are to comment about Liberal boogeymen on this post.

Posted by: Nolff | Apr 30, 2007 10:22:40 AM

I just wanted to add a tid bit that usually accompanies all ABC News reporting:

This is President Bush's fault...Everything that is and ever has been wrong with the world or the U.S. is President Bush's fault...

Posted by: jim jones | Apr 30, 2007 10:34:07 AM

really? what are the odds that someone who looks that much like ubl would live in the same area that ubl is reported to be hiding out?

Posted by: elizabeth | Apr 30, 2007 10:35:31 AM

he should be used to capture the rest of the gang,am sure this bloke can be used somehow.

Posted by: FADI | Apr 30, 2007 10:37:17 AM

Yes, but was he on the Washington DC madam's list...!?

Posted by: Ron | Apr 30, 2007 10:40:41 AM

Remember when we took ABC seriously? Perhaps that was a mistake.

But if Roseanne can replace Rosie on The View, can this poor sap replace UBL and finally get the $25 million?

Inquiring minds need to know...

Posted by: John | Apr 30, 2007 10:56:15 AM

Save the United States, repeal the 12th amendment.

Posted by: Patton | Apr 30, 2007 10:58:06 AM

Some people need to understand that there is a war going on and that is the justification. We will not win because the United States is not willing to do what it takes. We have to destroy their will to fight. The only way to do this is through Harsh Actions.

Posted by: Thomas | Apr 30, 2007 10:59:18 AM

This guy's going to Gitmo sooner or later.

Posted by: jdoe | Apr 30, 2007 11:04:04 AM

Bill Clinton had several chances to arrest the Osama Bin Laden look-a-like but never took any action...

Posted by: Phil McCracken | Apr 30, 2007 11:06:44 AM

i am reading all of these blogs and i can't beleive the imaturity of the responses given. i thought this was a serious news site. so the guy looks like bin laden. we captured sadam, we'll get bin laden too.

Posted by: sv | Apr 30, 2007 11:18:18 AM

I'm surprised Bin Laden hasn't used this guy to his advantage.. Or is he? Funny he is arrested at a time when UBL is believed to be moving around.. Great Decoy.. Kinda like Saddams look a likes..

Posted by: STEELHED | Apr 30, 2007 11:32:18 AM

Hollywood should snap this guy up for the next Bin Laden movie of the week.

Posted by: Scott | Apr 30, 2007 11:43:04 AM

Guys, this is actually an encouraging story. At least the military is acting on leads and that "informants" are telling officials that they have seen bin Laden. Obviously this story is just fluff and is meant to be funny, but a positive can b e seen from this. The military is looking for him, and he will be caught one day.

Posted by: B | Apr 30, 2007 11:44:28 AM

Put him in Gitmo and he'll end up believing he's Osama Bin Laden--it's work before for other suspects. Then, Bush can declare victory that indeed the Big Fish is caught and anything that happens afterwards is just a sign of more victory.

Posted by: jigsaw | Apr 30, 2007 11:48:22 AM

Posted by: Richard | Apr 30, 2007 10:25:55 AM
What is the point of this story?

The point is that the entire intelligence community was probably chasing this dude all along ("saw bin Laden moving across the border into Pakistan"). News travels fast. The three letter agencies will listen to anyone. I wouldn't be surprised if their 'guess' as to where he is changes to a completely different part of the globe. . . probably in search of another look alike.

Posted by: RJ | Apr 30, 2007 11:57:44 AM

I wonder if anybody has considered the possibility that Bin-Laden got plastic surgery to look different and this guy REALLY WAS HIM!

Posted by: Robert Nunemaker | Apr 30, 2007 11:59:01 AM

We had something similar here in Detroit. Two men, with the same name, born on the same day at the same hospital. One a career criminal, the other an innocent guy who has been arrested 7 or 8 times by mistake

Posted by: Mike Lombardini | Apr 30, 2007 12:01:17 PM

I wonder how many times we have paid the 25mil, and then discovered how stupid we were? oh yeh, we don't make mistakes cause we are 'mericans.

Oh say can you see by the dawns early lighhhhhhhhh....
Oops I kinda got teared up thinkin on 'us'.

Posted by: howdy | Apr 30, 2007 12:03:07 PM

Ha. You cant make this stuff up......! This is more entertaining to read these posts that to watch anything on TV.......keep it coming...........

Posted by: Boris | Apr 30, 2007 12:32:48 PM

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