FBI agents have flown to London from Boston, Massachusetts, in search of one of the world’s most wanted men. James Bulger, 78, an Irish-American gangster who is also known as Whitey, disappeared in 1995. He is said to be responsible for up to 21 murders. A $1 million (£488,000) reward has been posted by the bureau for information leading to his arrest.

Bulger was seen earlier this year in Sicily and is known to like living in London. The bureau believes that he has bank accounts and safe deposit boxes in the UK under assumed names. In January 2003, it said that it had found a safe deposit box containing $50,000 in the Piccadilly branch of Barclays Bank, which it claimed belonged to the gangster.

Bulger dealt in drugs and extortion in the 1970s and 1980s in Boston, building up a fortune for himself, much of which he hid around the world in case he ever had to go on the run. In 1995 he learnt that he was about to be arrested for 21 murders and extortion and went into hiding.

Agents are liaising with police forces across Europe as well as Scotland Yard to check whether a couple photographed in Taormina, Sicily, on April 10 are Bulger and his companion, Catherine Greig.

Rich Teahan, special agent for the FBI, told The Times that Bulger was violent and liked to carry a knife, but was charismatic and would win over people easily.

He said: “He likes to travel in the UK. He feels comfortable here. He was also known to have travelled to Brighton. We are here to coordinate with Scotland Yard. We want people to know that as well as being violent he is charismatic and along with the woman will get people’s trust and loyalty and that is one of the indicators for people to focus on – this man and woman will befriend you and win your trust.”

The FBI’s website shows several pictues of Bulger and how he may look now, both with facial hair and without.The site lists Bulger’s hobbies as reading, with an interest in history. “He is known to frequent libraries and historic sites,” it says. “Bulger is currently on the heart medication atenolol and maintains his physical fitness by walking on beaches and in parks with his female companion.

“Bulger and Greig love animals and may frequent animal shelters. Bulger has been known to alter his appearance through the use of disguises.”

The site urges caution and warns that Bulger “has a violent temper and is known to carry a knife at all times”.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said that officers had met the FBI and had discussed the hunt for Bulger. “We can confirm that, following a request from the US authorities, an officer from the Metropolitan Police Service Extradition and International Liaison Unit met with the FBI yesterday and at the meeting James Bulger was discussed. The MPS is not providing any active assistance to the US investigation.”

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