February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
One of the bureau’s 10 most wanted men, Bulger, warrants Web-based wanted posters in no fewer than five languages.
Osama Bin Laden, Bulger’s most dubious companion on the FBI top 10 list, is only wanted in English.
The 10 most wanted list is featured on the FBI Web site. Photos of the 10 are included along with their names underneath.
Bulger’s photo is right below Bin Laden’s.
But while the self-proclaimed mastermind behind numerous terrorist attacks, including Sept. 11, is simply denoted by the English form of his Arabic name, Bulger matches this in English, followed by full poster versions in Spanish, French, Italian and German.
The hunt for Bulger is being coordinated by the FBI in Boston and agents there have been looking at possible Bulger hiding places in Europe, both on the continent, in Britain and possibly even Ireland.
Investigating agents can request different language versions of wanted posters if they feel that there is a chance that the fugitive is in a particular part of the world.
This has been most especially the case with Bulger.
Four others on the list are listed as wanted in more than just English. But the four are not in Bulger’s lingual league as they only warrant an additional poster in Spanish.
Bulger was indicted in 2000 by a federal grand jury for the murder of 18 people, 16 men and two women. The indictment further alleged that three other murders were committed by associates of Bulger and his associate, Stephen Flemmi.
The indictment alleged that Bulger committed 11 of the murders while he was serving as an FBI informant in an investigation targeted against the New England Italian mob.
Bulger, who is now 74, has been a fugitive since early 1995, when he was tipped off about a pending indictment by his FBI handler, agent John Connolly.
Connolly is currently serving a federal prison sentence for this and other related convictions.
The various language wanted posters — which notify readers that information leading to Bulger’s arrest could mean a $1 million reward — state that Bulger is an “avid reader with an interest in history” who is known to frequent libraries and historic sites.
They further state that Bulger maintains his physical fitness by walking on beaches.
“Bulger has been known to alter his appearance through the use of disguises. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Mexico,” the Web site poster states.
And it adds a cautionary note to the effect that Bulger “has a violent temper and is known to carry a knife at all times.”