Al-Qaida commander behind NY and London terror plots killed, Pakistan military says

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Adnan el-Shukrijumah, one of al-Qaida's senior leaders who was indicted in a foiled terror plot in New York City, was killed in a predawn raid in his Pakistan hideout, the country's army said.

Shukrijumah, who once lived in New York City and Florida, was killed in South Waziristan: "http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/06/world/asia/pakistan-al-qaeda-death, Pakistani army spokesman Asim Bajwal said on Twitter.

#ZarbeAzb:Top AlQaeda Comd Adnan Al Shukri Aljuma with his 1 companion killed by Pak Army raid in S.Waziristan today.5 terrorists nabbed-1/2

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) December 6, 2014

Shukrijumah was the terror group's chief of global operations, taking over for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks.

In 2010, Shukrijumah was indicted for his alleged involvement in a plot to bomb New York City's subway system. Federal prosecutors said Shukrijumah recruited three men to carry out attacks on the London Underground as well. Attorney General Eric Holder called the plot one of the worst since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

He is also suspected in plotting al-Qaida attacks in Panama and Norway.

Shukrijumah, 39, was born in Saudi Arabia and moved to the United States as a youngster. His family settled in Brooklyn, N.Y., where his father was a cleric at a nearby mosque. He moved to south Florida in 1995, and studied chemistry and computer science at a community college. The FBI said Shukrijumah left America to later become a leader in al-Qaida.

Shukrijumah was named to the FBI's 'most wanted' terrorists list, with a $5 million reward for his capture.