FBI admits 'they had radical cleric al-Awlaki in custody' before letting him go in 2002

   Aug 3, 12:20 pm

Washington, Aug.3 (ANI): A top Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) official has now admitted that the agency had custody of the American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki back in 2002, but let him go.

According to Fox News, Mark Giuliano, the FBI's assistant director for national security, testified on Wednesday that they knew in advance that Awlaki was making his way back to the U.S. in October 2002, though he didn't explain how.

Al-Awlaki was detained at New York City's JFK Airport because a customs database flagged him based on an outstanding arrest warrant.

Giuliano, who under intense questioning by Frank Wolf, chairman of the committee that has oversight of the FBI, also admitted there were discussions between an FBI agent and the U.S. attorney in Colorado about the U.S.-born cleric's re-entry and the warrant.

"Yes, sir, there was a dialogue, as there always will be," Giuliano told Wolf.

"If a case agent has a case on somebody that is coming into the country, the system is triggered and set up so that there will be a call to that case agent," he added.

According to the report, former FBI agents said there are only two likely explanations - the bureau let the cleric into the country to track him for intelligence, or the bureau wanted to work with him as a friendly contact.

The FBI has consistently maintained that the arrest warrant was pulled because the case against the cleric was weak.

It has also suggested that the timing, coming on the same day the cleric re-entered the U.S. at New York City's JFK Airport, was coincidental. (ANI)

Legacy of cruelty by Islamists should end: Bangladesh educationist May 24, 7:41 pm
Dhaka, May 24 (ANI): Bangladesh educationist Azad Chowdhury called for the banning of the country's biggest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and blamed the organisation for misusing Islam and committing the wartime atrocities during the 1971 liberation war.
Full Story »
Three large explosions, gunfire near Indian embassy in Kabul May 24, 6:36 pm
Kabul (Afghanistan), May 24 (ANI): At least three explosions were reported from an area close to the Indian Embassy here on Friday, though there was no information of human casualties, if any.
Full Story »
Homeland Security bulletin warns 3-D printed gun plans may be 'impossible' to access May 24, 5:07 pm
Washington, May 24 (ANI): The menace of 3-D printed guns has already spread far and it will be 'impossible' to stop the manufacturing of more guns, an intelligence bulletin has revealed.
Full Story »
Lincoln's 'life-saving note' put up for 15000 dollars May 24, 5:07 pm
Washington, May 24 (ANI): Former American president Abraham Lincoln's scribbled note ordering a disabled 14-year-old boy to be released from the Army in response to the boy's father's plea, has been put on sale at 15000 dollars as part of a rare collection of Lincoln's children-related documents.
Full Story »
Comments

LATEST STORIES
TOP VIDEO STORIES
PHOTO GALLERY