Al Qaeda 'big catch' in U.S. custody

Not bin Laden's lieutenant, authorities say

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VIDEO CNN's David Ensor says the U.S. is keeping mum on the identity of the latest al Qaeda capture but characterize him as a 'big catch' (November 15) PLAY VIDEO SPECIAL REPORT • Interactive: The hunt for al Qaeda • Audio slide show: Bin Laden's audio message, 2/03 • Terror warning system • Special report: Terror on tape • Special report: War against terror RELATED • Feds warn of 'spectacular attacks' from al Qaeda  • Al Qaeda-linked Web site posts bin Laden tape text  • U.S. warns of possible attacks after CIA killer's execution

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A senior al Qaeda leader described as "a big catch" is in American custody, U.S. government sources told CNN Friday.

Authorities refused to give the name of the al Qaeda leader, but said the capture came in recent weeks and the man is one of the top two dozen al Qaeda terrorists sought by the U.S. government.

They did say the suspect was not among the top three most wanted al Qaeda leaders: Osama bin Laden; his top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri; or the terrorist group's operational leader, Khailid Shaikh Mohammed.

But one source termed the man "a big catch, definitely a big catch."

Word of the arrest comes as the FBI is warning that al Qaeda might be planning "spectacular attacks" in the United States that will cause "mass casualties" and "severe damage" to the economy. (Full story)

Senior al Qaeda leaders in U.S. hands include Abu Zubaydah and Ramzi Binalshibh, both of whom are being held by the CIA at undisclosed locations overseas, according to U.S. officials.

Sources said White House officials were debating Friday how much information to make public about the latest capture.

U.S. officials denied a report that the man is in the process of being moved from the country where he was caught to another location. Further details were not immediately available.

Last March, al Qaeda operations chief Zubaydah was captured in Pakistan and Ramzi Binalshibh, a Yemeni accused of involvement in the September 11 attacks, was nabbed last month.

And last week, a U.S. missile strike in Yemen killed six suspected al Qaeda members. Sources identified one of the dead as Abu Ali, also known as Qaed Senyan al-Harthi, a former bin Laden security guard who was believed to have played a major role in the October 2000 attack on the destroyer Cole that killed 17 sailors.

Also in U.S. custody is Zacarias Moussaoui who faces six conspiracy counts, and a possible death penalty, for his admitted involvement with al Qaeda, the Islamic terrorist group behind the September 11 attacks.

The new terror warnings have not caused the homeland security threat level to be increased from yellow -- elevated -- and FBI officials said the bulletin was not issued because of any new intelligence.

"The warnings that have gone out recently really are a summary of intelligence, not a new warning," national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said Friday in a news briefing.

The bulletin, issued Thursday by the FBI in its weekly law enforcement bulletin, stems from the release this week of an audiotape that is believed to contain Osama bin Laden's voice.

-- CNN Correspondent David Ensor contributed to this report.

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