Mission of the Rewards Program
The Rewards for Justice Program is one of the most valuable U.S. Government assets in the fight against international terrorism. Established by the 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism, Public Law 98-533, the Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
Under this program, the Secretary of State may offer rewards of up to $5 million for information that prevents or favorably resolves acts of international terrorism against U.S. persons or property worldwide. Rewards also may be paid for information leading to the arrest or conviction of terrorists attempting, committing, conspiring to commit, or aiding and abetting in the commission of such acts.
The USA Patriot Act of 2001, which became law on October 26, authorizes the Secretary to offer or pay rewards of greater than $5 million if he determines that a greater amount is necessary to combat terrorism or to defend the United States against terrorist acts. Secretary Powell has authorized a reward of up to $25 million for information leading to the capture of Usama bin Laden and other key Al-Qaida leaders.
The Rewards for Justice Program has been effective. In the past seven years, the United States has paid over $62 million to over 40 people who provided credible information that put terrorists behind bars or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. The program played a significant role in the arrest of international terrorist Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
In 1990, the State Department forged a unique public-private partnership with the Air Transport Association of America and the Air Line Pilots Association, International, in which each organization pledged 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 leads to the arrest or conviction of any person who has committed such an act.
The U.S. Government's standing reward offer of up to $5 million applies in all cases not addressed by the partnership agreement.
INTERAGENCY REWARDS COMMITTEE
The Director of the Diplomatic Security Service, or his/her designee, chairs an interagency committee which reviews reward candidates and then recommends rewards to the Secretary of State. This committee serves as the forum for discussion of many aspects of the Program. The Interagency Rewards Committee, depending upon the incident under review, is comprised of representatives from the White House National Security Council staff, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Treasury, Department of State, and others as appropriate.
EVERY GOVERNMENT AND EVERY CITIZEN
While the law governing the Rewards Program is aimed at terrorism directed against Americans, 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.
Terrorists are violent criminals. They must be stopped.
Existing Rewards Campaigns
- On September 11, 2001, terrorists
hijacked four commercial airliners. Two of these were used to
to attack the New York World Trade Center Twin Towers and one
was used to attack the Pentagon.The fourth airliner crashed into
a field near Shanksville, PA. The death toll on the four airliners
was 266 people. The death toll at the Pentagon is approximately
189 military and civilian personnel and the death toll in New
York is approximately 3,000 people.
The first flight, American Airlines Flight 11, smashed into the north tower of the Twin Towers at 8:45a.m. The second flight, United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the south tower at 9:05a.m. The Pentagon was hit by American Airlines Flight 77 at 9:39a.m. American Airlines Flight 93 crashed before it reached its intended target. The reward for information about the September 11th attacks is up to $25 million. On October 12, 2000, the USS Cole was attacked by terrorist in the harbor at Aden, Yemen. This attack took the lives of 17 sailors and wounded 30 others.
On August 7, 1998, terrorist bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania tragically resulted in hundreds of deaths and the savage maiming of thousands; The majority of those murdered were Kenyan and Tanzanian citizens as well as U. S. Embassy personnel.
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On the morning of November 12, 1997, Ephrahim C. Egbu, Joel B. Enlow, William L. Jennings, and Tracy L. Ritchie, employees of the Union Texas Petroleum Company (UTP) who were in Karachi on temporary assignment, were picked up from the Sheraton Hotel for a ride to UTP headquarters along the waterfront. As the station wagon in which they were traveling proceeded across the only bridge leading to the UTP office building, a red Honda Civic pulled in front and two gunmen jumped out. The gunmen fired into the UTP station wagon, brutally murdering the Pakistani driver, Anwar Mirza, and Messrs. Egbu, Enlow, Jennings and Ritchie.
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During the period December 1996 to January 1997, sixteen letter bombs disguised as holiday greeting cards were delivered through the mail to recipients in the United States and the United Kingdom.
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On June 5, 1996, the brutal and cowardly terrorist attack on a multi-national peacekeeping force in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia left 19 dead and hundreds injured. These peacekeepers were enforcing United Nations sanctions and the dead and injured represent citizens from several nations. The Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of those responsible for the Khobar Towers bombing. Additionally, the Government of Saudi Arabia is offering a reward of $3 million.
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On March 8, 1995 in Karachi, Pakistan, terrorists armed with automatic rifles murdered two American consulate employees and wounded a third as they traveled in the consulate shuttle bus.
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On January 6, 1995, a fire broke out in an apartment in Manila occupied by KHALED SHAIKH MOHAMMAD. The information developed from an investigation revealed that in August 1994 through January 1995, in this apartment and elsewhere, KHALED SHAIKH MOHAMMAD unlawfully and willfully conspired to bomb U.S. civillian airliners by placing explosive devices on twelve airliners flying over the Pacific Ocean during a two-day period in January 1995.
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On February 26, 1993, terrorists bombed the New York World Trade Center, murdering six innocent people, injuring over 1,000 others and trapping terrified school children in a smoke-filled elevator for hours.
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On January 5, 1993, Mir Aimal Kansi murdered two persons and seriously injured three others, firing an AK-47 assault rifle into cars waiting at a stoplight in front of the CIA headquarters. He was captured in Pakistan.
Kansi was convicted by a jury in Fairfax, Virginia for the murder of the two CIA employees on 10 November 1997.
Kansi was executed on 14 November 2002. -
On April 14, 1988, at 8pm, a car bomb exploded in front of the USO Club in Naples, Italy. The explosion resulted in the death of five people, including a U.S. servicewoman. Additionally, fifteen people were injured, including four U.S. servicemen.
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On December 21, 1988, terrorists destroyed Pan American Flight 103. The terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103 over Scotland points to the global impact of terrorism. The plane carried 259 citizens from 30 nations, including the United States, when it was destroyed over Lockerbie, Scotland; another 11 persons perished on the ground. Abdel Basset Ali Al-Megrahi was convicted on 31 January 2001 for his part in this crime.
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In April 1986, one of the youngest victims of terrorism, nine-month-old Demetra Stylian Klug, was killed in the terrorist bombing of TWA Flight 840.
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On June 13, 1985, terrorists hijacked TWA Flight 847. During a violent rampage against passengers and crew, they beat Robert Stethem to death, then dumped his body onto the tarmac.
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On October 23, 1983, 243 U.S. Marines were murdered in a cowardly truck bomb attack, ending their mission to help establish peace for the people of Lebanon.
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During the 1980's, in conditions of the utmost cruelty and deprivation, kidnapped American citizens -- as many as nine at one time -- were held hostage in Lebanon. For long and painful years, they were chained in the dark, beaten, and denied medical care. Three were murdered during their captivity.
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In the past 22 years, terrorist actions in Greece have resulted in the deaths of four Americans: Richard Welch, George Tsantes, William Nordeen, and Ronald Stewart, injuries to 28 other Americans, and a rocket attack on the Embassy compound in February 1996.
WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING
On February 26, 1993, the phenomenon of terrorism struck home for Americans in New York. A large improvised explosive device, concealed in a vehicle, was detonated in the sub-ground garage of the 110-story World Trade Center complex. One of the terrorists responsible, when subsequently captured, admitted the attackers sought to collapse one or both of the twin towers, killing tens of thousands of innocent people.
The terrorists who bombed the World Trade Center succeeded in murdering six innocent people, injuring 1,000 others, and trapping terrified school children in a smoke-filled elevator for hours.
Suspected terrorists Abdul Rahman Yasin and Ramzi Ahmed Yousef fled the United States following the bombing. Yasin is believed to be hiding in Iraq.
Immediately following the indictments of Yasin and Yousef, the U.S. launched a massive international manhunt for the two fugitives. Wanted posters offering rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to their capture were distributed in a variety of languages. Multi-language leaflets containing the reward offers were also sent throughout the world. Even matchbooks containing photos of the fugitives have been distributed.
On February 8, 1995, based upon information provided through the Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef was captured in Pakistan. Yousef was convicted by a jury in New York, New York for the bombing of the WTC on 12 November 1997.
PUBLIC EFFORTS
The State Department has an ongoing public campaign to promote awareness of the Rewards Program. Advertisements have been placed both to promote awareness of the Program and to reach those with information. Ads in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, German and Russian have appeared in publications as far-ranging as The New York Times, Al Hayat, Paris Match, Die Welt, and Pravda.
