Skip to content
September 30, 2011

Thompson Statement on the Killing of al Qaeda Leader Anwar al-Awlaki

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in response to news that al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in Yemen:

Less than six months after the killing of Osama bin Laden, we have scored another strategic counterterrorism victory with the death of Anwar al-Awlaki. As an American born al Qaeda leader, al-Awlaki was one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world. He was linked to numerous recent terrorist attacks against the U.S. - the failed Christmas Day bomber, the attempted Times Square bombing, the attempted printer toner explosive bombings, and the Fort Hood shooting.

Although the death of al-Awlaki will further hamper the already crippled al Qaeda – and the world will certainly be safer without him – we must continue our fight against terrorism and stop the radical ideology he espoused.

#   #   # 

Media Contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978