LARKSBURG, W.Va. — Did the FBI’s fingerprint/biometrics complex in Clarksburg play a big role in identifying Jihadi John, the Islamic State leader seen executing several hostages on video?
That’s what Patrick Tucker, the technology editor of “Defense One,” wrote about in an online posting Thursday.
Tucker quoted current CJIS Assistant Director Stephen L. Morris as saying that all biometrics work for the FBI comes through the Clarksburg facility.
Biometrics include fingerprints, iris scans, voice prints and other human characteristics.
The Exponent Telegram tried to confirm the report, reaching out to Stephen G. Fischer Jr., chief of multimedia productions for the FBI-CJIS Division.
While Fischer wouldn’t confirm the FBI’s direct role, he did say the local facility is involved with the effort to fight terrorism across the globe.
“The U.S. Government continues to investigate the murder of American citizens by ISIL,” Fischer wrote. “We will not comment on ongoing investigations and therefore are not in a position to confirm or deny the identity of this individual.
“We are working closely with our international partners, including the British Government, to do everything we can to bring these murderers to justice…