Brad Smith, director of the program under the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, said in an interview with USIA that over $5 million has been paid out to cooperating individuals.

The U.S. government protects in strict confidence the identity of those providing information and, in some cases, those individuals and their immediate families may be relocated to the United States or elsewhere for their safety.

"While the rewards program is aimed at terrorism directed against Americans," Smith emphasized, "the United States shares information with other nations whose citizens are at risk. Every government and every citizen has a stake in bringing terrorists to justice and in preventing acts of terrorism."

In 1990, Smith noted, the State Department forged a "partnership" with the Air Transport Association of America and the Airline Pilots Association, International -- with each organization pledging up to $1 million to supplement rewards paid by the U.S. government for information that prevents a terrorist act against U.S. civil aviation, or that leads to the arrest and conviction of any person who has committed such an act.

He said that efforts are underway to expand government partnership with the private sector, so up to $4 million per case can also be offered for information in areas outside civil aviation.

Smith said the program produced valuable information in connection with Operation Desert Storm, the international effort against the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and the location of suspects in the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center in New York.

At the start of the Gulf War, Smith recounted, an informant in an East Asian country came forward with "alarming information" about a series of terrorist attacks planned by the Iraqi intelligence service. "The terrorists had already surveyed their intended targets," Smith continued. "They had acquired automatic weapons, grenades, and high explosives. The attacks were beyond the planning stage and about to be carried out."

According to the informant, one of the attacks, a planned terrorist bombing of airline ticket counters at a major airport, was scheduled to be carried out within 48 hours.

Smith said the "cooperating individual provided information which was essential in thwarting the planned terror attacks; and the terrorists were stopped in their tracks by U.S. and host nation authorities. Had the planned attacks succeeded, scores of Americans and citizens of our coalition partners would have been murdered."

The informant, and his/her immediate family, were relocated under the rewards program to a place of safety in the United States. "He/she was given a very substantial reward for coming forward and saving lives," Smith said.

On February 26, 1993, the specter of international terrorism struck Americans when a large explosive device, concealed in a truck, was detonated in the garage of the 110-story World Trade Center. "One of the terrorists responsible, when apprehended, admitted the attackers sought to collapse one or both of the twin towers, killing tens of thousands of innocent people," Smith said. Six persons were killed and about 1,000 others injured in the explosion.

Two of the suspected terrorists, Abdul Rahman Yasin and Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, fled the United States following the bombing.

Following the indictments of Yasin and Yousef, the United States launched a "massive international manhunt" for the two fugitives. Wanted posters -- offering up to $2 million in rewards for information leading to their capture -- were distributed in a variety of languages. Multi-language leaflets were also sent throughout the world. Even matchbooks containing photos of the fugitives were distributed, and announcements were placed on the Internet.

On February 8, 1995, Smith said, Pakistani police along with U.S. diplomatic security agents -- acting on information gained through the rewards program -- located and arrested Ramzi Ahmed Yousef in Pakistan. He was extradited to the United States for trial. Smith said that Yasin is believed to be hiding in Iraq.

Pointing at the potential danger from nuclear material in the hands of terrorists, Smith noted that Congress has expanded the definition of international terrorism by authorizing rewards for information regarding "any act substantially contributing to the acquisition of unsafeguarded special nuclear material...or any nuclear explosive device...by an individual, group, or non-nuclear-weapon state."

The official stressed that "we will pursue aggressively our responsibilities to deny terrorists the opportunity to acquire or use weapons of mass destruction."

The following are some of the terrorist cases in which the United States is seeking information:

-- The June 25, 1996, terrorist attack against the multi-national peacekeeping force in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, which left 19 dead and hundreds injured. The State Department is offering a reward of up to $2 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of those responsible for the AL-Khobar Towers bombing. In addition, the government of Saudi Arabia is offering a reward of $3 million.

-- Dr. Donald Hutchings, an American medical professional, was abducted July 4, 1995, by unknown persons in the hill country of Kashmir.

-- Wanted in the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center, Abdul Rahman Yasin is believed to be hiding in Iraq.

-- Mir Aimal Kansi allegedly murdered two persons and injured three others firing an AK-47 assault rifle into cars waiting at a stop light near the headquarters of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Kansi is believed to be hiding in Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Iran.

-- On December 21, 1988, terrorists destroyed Pan American Flight 103 over Scotland using a bomb hidden in baggage. All 259 passengers, representing citizens from 30 countries, were killed. Another 11 persons were killed on the ground by the wreckage. Lamen Khalifa Fhimah and Abdel Basset Ali Al-Megrahi, both Libyan nationals and intelligence officers, are believed responsible and are currently hiding in Libya.

-- In April 1986, one of the youngest victims of terrorism, 9-month-old Demetra Stylian Klug, was killed in the terrorist bombing of TWA Flight 840 in Greek airspace. Those believed to be responsible may be hiding in Lebanon, Libya, or Iran.

-- Terrorists hijacked TWA Flight 847 in Greece on June 13, 1985, and beat American Robert Stethem to death. Those believed to be responsible are thought to be hiding in Lebanon, Libya, or Iran.

-- During the 1980s, kidnapped American citizens -- as many as nine at one time -- were held hostage in Lebanon. Three were murdered during their captivity. Those believed to be responsible are thought to be hiding in Lebanon, Libya, or Iran.

Overseas, people with information should contact local authorities or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Information may also be provided by telephone, by mail, or electronic-mail.

Edmund F. Scherr writes on terrorism and other global issues for the United States Information Agency.

Global Issues
USIA Electronic Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1, February 1997