The senior al Qaeda leader was identified as Adnan El Shukrijumah who was indicted in the US over a plot to bomb New York’s subway system.

A statement by Pakistani military said two other suspected al Qaeda militants were also killed along with Shukrijumah following the raid.

The statement further added “In an intelligence borne operation top Al-Qaeda leader Adnan El Shukrijumah was killed by Pakistan Army in an early morning raid in Shinwarsak, South Wazirastan today.”

Asim Bajwal of Inter-service Public Relations also confirmed the report and said “Top AlQaeda commander Adnan El Shukrijuma with his 1 companion killed by Pak Army raid in S. Waziristan today. 5 terrorists nabbed,” Asim Bajwal of Pakistan’s Inter-service Public Relation said.

According to the US prosecutors, Shukrijumah had recruited three men in 2008 to receive training in the lawless tribal region of Pakistan for the attack.