FBI used Spaniard's photo to create bin Laden image

MADRID – A Spanish politician said on Saturday he was “stupefied” by the FBI’s decision to use his photograph to compose its …

MADRID – A Spanish politician said on Saturday he was “stupefied” by the FBI’s decision to use his photograph to compose its latest image of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and is considering taking legal action.

“In the last few days I have seen the security services involved in some very strange things, some major failures, but I would never have believed they could have affected me so directly,” said Gaspar Llamazares, a former leader of Spain’s communist party, Izquierda Unida.

An FBI agent said the organisation was aware of similarities between the image – an “age-progressed photograph” intended to give an updated idea of bin Laden’s appearance – and that of “an existing photograph of a Spanish public official”.

Special agent Jason Pack said a forensic artist had been unable to find suitable features from the FBI’s database and used a picture from the internet instead.

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The artist was not aware of the identity of the individual depicted in the photograph, Mr Pack said, adding that the image would be removed. – (Reuters)