RETALIATION

Feds Issue Security Warning

After Awlaki killing.

U.S. officials warned late Friday of possible attacks in retaliation for the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued a joint warning that Awlaki’s death “could provide motivation for a homeland attack” by “homegrown violent extremists.” Awlaki, an American citizen born in New Mexico, was considered a top recruiter for al Qaeda, given his fluency in English and his social-media skills. The bulletin came the same day that Awaki was killed by a U.S. drone strike; a similar bulletin had been issued after Osama bin Laden was killed in May. Meanwhile, Awlaki’s father, Nasser al-Awlaki, is reportedly on his way to the Yemeni capital, Sana, to confirm his son's death. While the other three operatives killed in the drone strike have not been identified, a U.S. official said Saturday that al Qaeda bombmaker Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri was at the scene of the attack—but Asiri’s death could not be confirmed.