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FBI follow up interviews with Awlaki, September 17 and 19, 2001

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National Security Archive

May 30, 20265 min read

Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, FBI agents learned that two of the hijackers had prayed regularly in Awlaki's mosque in San Diego, and that one of those hijackers and a third hijacker had turned up at his new mosque outside Washington. Worried that he might have some connection t

Source: FBI follow up interviews with Awlaki, September 17 and 19, 2001 Date: Oct 22, 2012 Collection: The Anwar al-Awlaki File Sep 15, 2015


Page 1

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

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

[-302]

  • 1 -

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

[19167]

Date of transcription 09/17/2001

On September 17, 2001, Special Agents (SAs) [illegible] and [illegible] again met with ANWAR AULAQI, 3331 Kaywood Drive, Falls Church, Virginia, 22041. SAs had previously met with AULAQI on 9/15/01. In reference to Control Number 2334, the interview commenced at approximately 10:55 a.m. and AULAQI provided the following information: b6 b7C

AULAQI advised that his first name is spelled ANWAR and not ANSWAR as previously reported. SA [illegible] then provided the list of subjects name written in Arabic. The list was enclosed in a 1A. AULAQI perused the list for a few moments. Then he stated that the names were still difficult as most of them were merely English translations and not true Arabic names. AULAQI further advised that the only name that seemed somewhat familiar was ALHAZMI, but that he did not know anyone by that name, he just recognized the family name as that which exists in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. AULAQI stated that he did not believe that MOQED was really an Arabic last name. b6 b7C

AULAQI provided that the AL-RIBAT mosque in San Diego, California, where he was the previous Imam, had a following of approximately 200-300 persons. He further provided that the main core of the following consisted of approximately 20 people. He stated that he remembered most of them well by picture, but not necessarily by name.

SA [illegible] then provided a spread sheet of the photographs of the five subjects. AULAQI studied the sheet momentarily and stated that he did not know #1 (HANI HANJOUR). He then continued to study the sheet and stated that he had seen #4 (SALEM ALHAZMI) in the photo identification that was shown at the mosque by two other SAs on 9/15/01. (Writer's Note: AULAQI stated in his previous interview on 9/16 that he was not present at the mosque when the two SAs had come to show the photo.) b6 b7C

After continuing to study the spread sheet, AULAQI stated that he did know #3 (NAWAF ALHAZMI). AULAQI stated that #3 was a Saudi from Mecca who he knew from the AL-RIBAT mosque in San Diego, California. He could not recall his name, but definitely remembered having an association with him. AULAQI has not seen or heard from ALHAZMI since June 2000, when AULAQI left California. AULAQI further stated that he does not remember many details about ALHAZMI but that possibly he was a student. He also described ALHAZMI as being somewhat of a loner as he did not have a large circle of friends and did not extend relationships easily. AULAQI further described ALHAZMI as very soft spoken and

Investigation on 9/17/01 at Falls Church, Virginia [-302] File # 265D-NY-280350-302 Date dictated 9/17/01 [19167] by SA [illegible] 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: Awlaki-47 it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

Page 2

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

265D-NY-280350-302

Continuation of FD-302 of ANWAR AULAQI , On 9/17/01 , Page 2

shy. He was very shocked that ALHAZMI was involved in this terrorist act and on several occasions stated that he could not believe ALHAZMI was involved. He further described ALHAZMI as extremely nice, and a relatively calm person.

AULAQI did not believe that ALHAMZMI was as religious as most and that it would have taken a more radical person to attempt this attack. He believed this because he never saw ALHAZMI with a beard and stated that if ALHAZMI was that radical in his religious beliefs, he would have had a beard. ALHAMZI would have also attend all five prayers during the day, which he did not and would have taken more teachings, which he did not. AULAQI advised that he did not believe that ALHAZMI could have gotten the radical ideas in California, because the AL-RIBAT mosque did not teach that type of religion. Also, when AULAQI knew ALHAMZI in California, he estimated that ALHAMZI was just out of high school.

ALHAMZI would show up at the mosque with a companion who AULAQI could not identify but believed was his brother. AULAQI remembered a conversation that he did have with ALHAMZI on the stairwell of the AL-RIBAT mosque. AULAQI had just returned from a trip to Saudi Arabia and ALHAMZI asked why AULAQI had not contacted ALHAMZI while in Saudi as ALHAMZI was there at the same time. AULAQI could not provide the exact dates, but advised he would follow up and provide this information at a later date. He remembered that it must have been for either the Hajj or Ramadan as those were the two dates that AULAQI traveled to Saudi Arabia.

AULAQI stated that if the FBI could provide a picture to him of ALHAMZI, he would send it to the AL-RIBAT mosque and have them obtain as much information as possible regarding who he stayed with and why he was living in California.

When the SAs arrived, the following vehicles were parked in front of the residence:

b6 b7C

Awlaki-48

Keywords

declassifiedNational Security ArchiveThe Anwar al-Awlaki File Sep 152015

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