Bin Laden's Hair 'Borrowed'

FBI used Spanish official's 'do for updated Osama photo
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 16, 2010 3:07 PM CST
Bin Laden's Hair 'Borrowed'
A composite image shows Osama bin-Laden in April 1998, left, and two digitally enhanced images.   (AP Photo/U.S. Department of State)

When the FBI released digitally enhanced images showing what Osama bin Laden might look like today, it took one Spanish lawmaker in particular by surprise. That's his hair photoshopped atop the terrorist's head. "It's almost like out of a comedy if it didn't deal with matters as serious as bin Laden and citizens' security," Gaspar Llamazares tells the AP.

The FBI explains in a statement: "The forensic artist was unable to find suitable features among the reference photographs and obtained those features, in part, from a photograph he found on the Internet." Llamazares says he's awaiting his own response from the US government and may take legal action. "I have no similarity, physically or ideologically, to the terrorist bin Laden," he says. They do, however, share the same age: 52.
(More FBI stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X