FBI first interview with Awlaki, September 15, 2001.

FD-302 (Rev. 10-6-95)

ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED DATE 10-22-2012 BY 65179 DMH/MJS

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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 09/15/2001

On September 15, 2001, Special Agents (SAs) [illegible] and [illegible] b6 b7C of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an interview of ANWAR NASSER AULAQI (American citizen), 3331 Kaywood, Drive, Falls Church, Virginia, 22041, cell phone 202-297-6224, date of birth: 4/21/71, place of birth: Las Crucas, New Mexico, social security number: 521-77-7121. The following information was provided by AULAQI:

AULAQI advised that he did not expect to be interviewed by the FBI because on 9/13/01, two SAs from the FBI had arrived at the DAL HIJRA Mosque, 3159 Row Street, Falls Church, Virginia, and requested if anyone could identify a picture that the SAs had in their possession of one of the suspects that took part in the hijacking on 9/11/01. AULAQI advised that he was not present at the mosque when the SAs were there but was told later in the day. When questioned regarding his familiarity with the names of any of the hijackers, AULAQI further advised that he was not familiar with any of the hijackers. He also did not recognize any of the names, because it would be difficult to identify them because of the English translation. AULAQI stated that if he had the names in Arabic, he would be much better able to make identification as to whether or not he knew them.

In January of 2001, AULAQI moved to his present address in Falls Church, Virginia. Prior to that, he resided in San Diego, California for approximately 5 years where he was the Imam of the AL-RIBAT Mosque. While living in San Diego, AULAQI attended the San Diego State University, San Diego, California, part-time and received his Master's Degree in Education. At present, AULAQI is the Imam at DAL HIJRA, and also attends school full-time at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., where he is obtaining his PhD in Human Resource Development. AULAQI advised that he is attending school through a scholarship provided by the Ministry of Education in Yemen. He is paid a stipend of approximately $200.00 a month from his scholarship and receives a salary for his position as Imam.

Over the past six months, AULAQI has traveled quite extensively. In mid August, he took a three week trip to Sanaa, Yemen where his father, NASSER AULAQI, who is a Yemen citizen, and one of his brothers, live. AULAQI provided the name of his grandfather as ABDULLAH. He was in Yemen for the wedding of his brother. AULAQI stated that he has another brother who lives in Las Crucas, New Mexico. For the past three weeks, AULAQI has traveled every weekend. Over the weekend of 9/1/01, he traveled to Chicago to attend the Islamic Society of

Investigation on 9/15/01 at Washington, D.C.

File # 265D-NY-280350-302 Date dictated 9/15/01 by SA [illegible] SA Awlaki-90

302 455 56 b6 b7C

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

FD-302a (Rev. 10-6-95)

265D-NY-280350-302

Continuation of FD-302 of ANWAR NASER AULAQI .On 9/15/01 .Page 2

America Conference. He was also in the United Kingdom on the weekend of 8/25/01, and last weekend, 9/9/01 he spoke in San Diego at a conference which was a fund raiser for the JAMIL AMIN FUND (H. RAP BROWN). The conference was organized by the MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION through a friend of AULAQI's named [illegible] LNU). (LNU) also made the arrangements for AULAQI for a rental car and sleeping accomodations. AULAQI stayed in Irvine for the majority of the conference and only spent one night in San Diego. While in San Diego for the night, AULAQI stayed at a house owned by the AL-RIBAT mosque and where AULAQI formerly resided. AULAQI departed the D.C. area on 9/8/01 and returned from San Diego on 9/11/01 to National Airport at approximately 9:00 a.m.

At approximately 11:50 a.m., AULAQI excused himself from the interviewers as he needed to make an "urgent" phone call. At noon, he returned and the interview continued.

AULAQI stated that as Imam, he is responsible for conducting the five daily prayer calls. He is also responsible for the Juma on Fridays, lessons for religion, non-formalized religious training, and counseling for marital problems. When questioned as to whether or not he would counsel someone on other stressful issues or problem situations, he advised that he mainly conducted marital counseling because he does not have "formal" religious training. All of his training for Imam has come from his own studies and research. The lessons for religion are usually held on the weekends as that is the most convenient time for him. AULAQI further stated that his role as Imam was not as strong as the role of a Catholic priest. AULAQI advised that while in San Diego, he did not remember any one specific seeking him out for counseling on any subject. AULAQI further advised that he is not truly a "counselor" but more of a friend to the persons in his mosque.

This past Friday, AULAQI focused his juma on the Fatwa by [illegible] which involves the Condemnation of an Incident. He thought this was appropriate for the healing to begin from the attacks on Tuesday. This Fatwa can also be found on-line at Islam on Line. He stressed during the juma that the healing should begin and that people should be vigilant in reporting to law enforcement any acts of violence or hate crimes against them. AULAQI advised that there was another on line web site called CAIR.net (Council of American Islamic Relations) which could be used to report hate crimes. AULAQI stated that NIHAD AWAD is the president of CAIR.

When questioned as to whether or not AULAQI lectured on the Jihad or his feelings regarding the Jihad, AUQLI stated "I would like not to comment on that". However, he further stated that he absolutely "strongly condemns the attacks".

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FD-302a (Rev. 10-6-95)

265D-NY-280350-302

Continuation of FD-302 of ANWAR NASER AULAQI , On 9/15/01 , Page 3

AULAQI would not show the SAs his passport and advised that he did not feel like showing it to the SAs at this time because it was upstairs.

AULAQI is married with three small children. He drives a 1999 Dodge Caravan, license plate YGM 1238, which is registered to him but with an address of 3159 Row Street, Falls Church, Virginia which is the address of the DAL HIJRA Mosque.

The interview was terminated at approximately 12:25 p.m.

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