An armed American man who claimed to be on a solo mission to kill Osama bin Laden has been arrested in Pakistan.
He was identified as Gary Brooks Faulkner, a construction worker from California aged around 50, who entered the country as a tourist in early June but later disappeared.
The US embassy said it had been notified and officials were trying to meet the man and confirm his story.
Faulkner was detained in a forest of the Chitral region late on Sunday and has since been quizzed by intelligence officials in Peshawar, the country's main northwestern city.
"We initially laughed when he told us that he wanted to kill Osama bin Laden," said officer Mumtaz Ahmad Khan.
He added however that when police found he was carrying a pistol, a sword and night-vision equipment, "our suspicion grew".
Pakistan police officer Mumtaz Ahmad KhanWe initially laughed when he told us that he wanted to kill Osama bin Laden.
"He said 9/11 caused colossal losses to the US, therefore he wanted to locate Osama bin Laden and his friends," Mr Khan said.
Pakistani authorities allege the American intended to travel to the eastern Afghan region of Nuristan, just across the border from Chitral.
The area is rumoured to be a hiding place of bin Laden - one of the world's most wanted men with a bounty of $25m (£17m) on his head.
Mr Khan said Faulkner, who also had in his possession Christian literature, told officers: "God is with me, and I am confident I will be successful in killing him (bin Laden)."
The American had been assigned a police escort, which is common for tourists visiting remote areas of Pakistan.
However, he left his hotel at the weekend without informing anyone and a search for him was launched.
FROM SKY NEWS
