Bin Laden hunter was ‘on mission from God’

AN American construction worker detained in Pakistan while reportedly on a solo mission to kill Osama bin Laden claimed yesterday that he was obeying an order from God to avenge the September 11 attacks, said Pakistani officials.

Gary Brooks Faulkner said God revealed the order in one of his dreams, prompting him to travel to Pakistan in search of al-Qaida’s leader, said two security officials.

bin Laden was 50-year-old Faulkner’s passion, his brother Scott Faulkner said. A devout Christian with a prison record, Faulkner has been to Pakistan at least six times, learned some of the local language, and even grew a long beard to blend in.