World | Daniel Pearl Al-Qaeda's New Boss Linked to Pearl's Killing Saif al-Adel discussed reporter's kidnapping with KSM By Rob Quinn Posted May 24, 2011 2:41 AM CDT Copied This undated image released by the FBI shows Saif al-Adel, the new chief of al-Qaeda. (AP Photo/FBI, File) The 2002 kidnapping and beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl can be added to new al-Qaeda leader Saif al-Adel's extensive record of murder and mayhem, according to Georgetown University's Pearl Project. Investigators found that the Egyptian discussed the kidnapping with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and decided al-Qaeda should become involved, Reuters reports. Mohammed—who later confessed to beheading Pearl—"told the FBI that he was pulled into the kidnapping by a high-level leader in al-Qaeda circles, an Egyptian named Saif al-Adel, who told him to make the kidnapping an al-Qaeda operation," the Georgetown report states. Osama bin Laden was angered by Pearl's killing, believing it attracted too much attention to al-Qaeda's network inside Pakistan, according to the report. Read These Next JD Vance in hot water over birthday boating trip. Two state troopers were shot in Pennsylvania "Rock's forgotten genius" said no to Led Zeppelin. Iran just executed one of its own nuclear scientists. Report an error