Los Angeles ? U.S. authorities expelled a Saudi consular official and Muslim leader who had been living in Southern California, saying he was suspected of having terrorist links.

Fahad al Thumairy, 31, was detained earlier in the week at Los Angeles International Airport after arriving from Frankfurt, Germany, and was deported Thursday. He may not return to the United States for five years.

“He was placed on an international flight, destined for Riyadh,” Saudi Arabia, said Virginia Kice, of the Department of Homeland Security.

Al Thumairy’s diplomatic visa was revoked in March, and his name was added to a list of travelers who should not be allowed to enter the United States because of suspected links to terrorism. Officials would not immediately provide details on the alleged connection.

Officials of the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles and the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

Al Thumairy had worked for the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles since 1996 and held a post in the Islamic and cultural affairs section of the consulate.

He was also the imam at the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, which has one of the largest Muslim congregations in the region. The mosque, built with financing from the Saudi government, was the target of a foiled bomb plot by a member of the militant Jewish Defense League in 2001.

“He never dealt with politics, in his public comments or in private gatherings,” said Tajuddin Shuaib, who directs the mosque, which is run by a nonprofit group.

“Like the rest of us, he was really shocked about Sept. 11. He felt it was wrong and, in the long term, that it would harm Muslims,” Shuaib said.