Anwar al-Awlaki: a US citizen assassinated on foreign soil | ASSASSINS

ABC News In-depth

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Video Summary

Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen and influential Al-Qaeda ideologue, became the first U.S. citizen assassinated by presidential order via drone strike in Yemen. His radicalization journey, from a moderate student leader in the U.S. to a key figure in global jihad, is detailed, highlighting his sophisticated use of media to recruit Western Muslims.

Awlaki's ability to connect with a Western audience through publications like Inspire magazine, which famously published instructions on building bombs, directly influenced acts of terrorism, including the Boston Marathon bombing. Despite initial outreach from U.S. government entities and his own public condemnation of 9/11, his growing extremism, coupled with a hidden life of hypocrisy and FBI investigation, ultimately led to his demise and solidified his legacy as a dangerous proponent of "DIY terrorism."

Short Highlights

Anwar al-Awlaki was the first American citizen assassinated by U.S. presidential order via drone strike.
He was a prominent figure in Al-Qaeda, known for his propaganda and recruitment efforts.
Awlaki co-founded Inspire magazine, which provided instructions for making bombs.
The magazine inspired the Tsarnaev brothers to carry out the Boston Marathon bombing.
His radicalization began during his time as a student and imam in the U.S.
He was targeted and killed by a U.S. drone strike in Yemen.
Awlaki's influence extended to disaffected Western Muslims.

Key Details

The Drone Strike [0:00]

A group of predator drones identified two targets in the Yemeni desert. These drones, operated by skilled hunters, tracked their prey from thousands of feet up. The targets, unaware of the threat, sped up to reach cover, but the drones maintained pace. Thousands of kilometers away, two men awaited orders. The drones released Hellfire missiles, incinerating the targets and eight people, including Anwar al-Awlaki, a 40-year-old Yemeni American.

An inferno envelops the white specks in the desert, now charred lumps of twisted metal and burning rubber.

Anwar al-Awlaki: The First American Drone Assassination [0:46]

Anwar al-Awlaki, the first American citizen assassinated by order of a U.S. president, was killed by a drone on foreign soil, authorized by Barack Obama. Al-Awlaki became an infamous promoter of global jihad, known for his sophisticated messaging to Western audiences.

And today, Anwar al-Awlaki, the first American citizen to be assassinated by order of a U.S. president, killed by a drone on foreign soil, greenlit by Barack Obama, an American man who became one of the most infamous promoters of global jihad.

Inspire Magazine and the Boston Bombing [1:22]

The Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013, carried out by the Tsarnaev brothers, resulted in three deaths and over 260 injuries. The brothers, not part of a formal terrorist organization, learned bomb-making from Inspire magazine. The article "Make a bomb in the kitchen of your mum" from the magazine's first issue in 2010 detailed how to use common household items to construct a bomb.

Make a bomb in the kitchen of your mum.

Al-Awlaki's Media Savvy and Al-Qaeda Connection [2:22]

Anwar al-Awlaki was the mastermind behind the "Make Your Own Bomb" article in Inspire magazine. He possessed a keen ability to communicate his message to a young Western audience, famously stating, "Jihad is becoming as American as apple pie and as British as afternoon tea." Inspire magazine used a tone with "buzzfeed-y headlines," millennial lingo, and satirical elements. The magazine, published by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, even bragged about being the inspiration for the Boston Marathon bombers.

Inspire magazine has the same kind of tone, full of buzzfeed-y headlines, which were popular, not cringe back then.

Early Life and Radicalization [3:30]

Born in New Mexico, Anwar al-Awlaki enrolled at Colorado State University in 1990. He ran for president of the Muslim Students Association, presenting himself as a moderate candidate. During a summer break, he visited Afghanistan to learn from the Mujahideen, a trip that profoundly impacted him and fueled his anger. Later, as an imam in California in the late 1990s, he recorded English-language lectures that gained him a large following among Western Muslims.

But the trip has a profound impact on him. And after visiting the Mujahideen, he starts to get angry.

Post-9/11 Scrutiny and Hypocrisy [7:06]

Following 9/11, scrutiny of the Muslim community intensified. Two of the hijackers had frequently visited mosques where al-Awlaki was an imam, leading authorities to label him the hijacker's spiritual advisor. Despite public statements condemning terrorism, his circle included figures linked to Osama bin Laden. Simultaneously, al-Awlaki was secretly engaging in extramarital affairs with sex workers, a stark contrast to his public preaching against fornication and promoting family values.

Do I think he played a role in helping the hijackers here, knowing they were up to something? Yes.

FBI Investigation and Flight [8:36]

The FBI investigated al-Awlaki, discovering his secret life. When a brothel owner alerted him that police were inquiring about him, al-Awlaki panicked about his reputation being destroyed. A few days later, he fled the U.S. for the United Kingdom, with no intention of returning. His departure marked the end of his moderate public persona.

The FBI has a file on me, and it could destroy my life.

Yemen and Further Radicalization [9:31]

In London, al-Awlaki's extremism grew, leading British agencies to monitor him. He eventually moved back to Yemen, establishing a base of operations. However, he was arrested by Yemeni authorities for planning to kidnap a Shiite teenager and a U.S. military attaché. After 18 months in prison, much of it in solitary confinement, he was released and immediately joined Al-Qaeda in the tribal lands.

Some who knew him say this is really where he becomes truly radicalised, to the point of promoting terror.

Climax of Influence and Targeting [11:10]

In Yemen, al-Awlaki reached the peak of his influence, co-founding Inspire magazine. He capitalized on cultural moments, like the outrage over a South Park episode depicting the Prophet Muhammad, by placing the cartoonist on a "jihadist execution list." His messages, delivered in English and targeting disaffected Western Muslims, encouraged direct action against Americans, framing it as a religious obligation.

A soul that is so debased as to enjoy the ridicule of the messenger of Allah, the mercy to mankind, does not deserve life, does not deserve to breathe the air.

Call to Jihad [12:30]

Al-Awlaki sent an audio message to American Muslims, declaring that jihad against America was binding upon every able Muslim. He explained his personal transition from non-violent activism to advocating for violent jihad due to perceived U.S. aggression against Muslims. His growing influence and dangerous rhetoric made him a significant threat that could no longer be ignored.

I was a preacher of Islam involved in non-violent Islamic activism. However, with the American invasion of Iraq and continued U.S. aggression against Muslims, I could not reconcile between living in the U.S. and being a Muslim.

Betrayal and Demise [13:14]

Less than a year after the South Park episode incident, the seeds of al-Awlaki's destruction were sown, not by American or British forces, but by one of his own associates. The video promises to reveal who betrayed Anwar al-Awlaki in part two.