ED WHITE, Associated Press Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Federal authorities in Detroit say they fatally shot the leader of a radical fundamentalist Sunni Islam group after he failed to surrender on several criminal charges.
The U.S. attorney's office says Luqman Ameen Abdullah was killed while exchanging gunfire with federal agents Wednesday at a warehouse in Dearborn.
A court document says Abdullah is an imam, or prayer leader, of a radical group whose primary mission is to establish an Islamic state within the United States. Authorities say he's also known as Christopher Thomas.
The FBI was trying to round up Abdullah and 10 followers on many charges, including conspiracy to sell stolen goods and illegal possession and sale of firearms.
The FBI says Abdullah regularly preached anti-government rhetoric, and some of his followers converted to Islam while in prison.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
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