December 1, 2006 FBI memo about seeking to interview Awlaki in prison in Yemen

SECRET DATE: 12-06-2012 CLASSIFIED BY 65179 DMH/MJS REASON 1.4 (c) DECLASSIFY ON: 12-08-2037 SECRET Memorandum ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED EXCEPT WHERE SHOWN OTHERWISE (S) (S) To : 1 December 2006 b1 b3 From : Legal Attache Office Subject: ABU ATIQ ANWAR AULAQI (S) b1 b3 (U) ANWAR AULAQI resided in San Diego, California from late 1995 to August 2000. AULAQI served as Imam of the Al-Ribat Mosque during this time. September 11, 2001 AL-QAEDA hijackers NAWAF AL-HAZMI and KHALID AL-MIHDHAR resided in San Diego during the year 2000. While it is known that AULAQI had contacts with AL- HAZMI and AL-MIHDHAR in San Diego, California and AULAQI may have had contacts with AL-HAZMI and HANI HANJOUR at the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque in Falls Church, Virginia, their exact relationship remains unclear. (U) (S) Reliable San Diego asset reporting and witness interviews showed that AL-MIHDHAR and AL-HAZMI attended the Al-Ribat Mosque and associated with AULAQI. From asset reporting and witness interviews, Saudi OMAR AL-BAYOUMI, Yemeni MOHDAR ABDULLAH and ANWAR AULAQI are mentioned as introducing NAWAF AL-HAZMI and/or KHALID AL-MIHDHAR to others in San Diego. (U) When interviewed in September 2001, ANWAR AULAQI stated he recognized a photograph of NAWAF AL-HAZMI. AULAQI identified him as a Saudi from Mecca that he knew from the Al-Ribat mosque in San Diego. AULAQI remembered having an association with AL- SECRET SECRET 205 b7A

SECRET SECRET HAZMI, but said he had not seen AL-HAZMI since he left California in 2000. AULAQI appears to have left San Diego in August 2000 and made overseas trips before settling in Virginia in January 2001. An individual who assisted NAWAF AL-HAZMI and other September 11, 2001 hijackers look for an apartment and obtain illegal Virginia driver's licenses, EYAD ALRABABAH, advised that he met HANI HANJOUR and NAWAF AL-HAZMI at a 7-11 in Falls Church, Virginia. ALRABABAH later stated that he met HANI HANJOUR and NAWAF AL-HAZMI at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque with ANWAR AULAQI. ALRABABAH identified a photograph of AULAQI and stated he was at the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque in March 2001 when ALRABABAH met HANJOUR and AL-HAZMI.

(U) AULAQI left the United States in the early part of 2002. Significant information regarding AULAQI has developed since this time and since the time he was interviewed in September 2001. Since AULAQI was never thoroughly debriefed or interviewed regarding his association with September 11, 2001 hijackers NAWAF AL-HAZMI and KHALID AL-MIHDHAR; his overseas travel in 2000-2001; his association with the San Diego Al-Ribat Mosque, San Diego subjects, and San Diego associates of September 11, 2001 hijackers NAWAF AL-HAZMI and KHALID AL-MIHDHAR, San Diego requests access to interview AULAQI [illegible]

(U) San Diego is providing Legat [illegible] with the below tear line requesting access to interview AULAQI. It is unknown at this time whether the interview will take one or two days or if a polygraph will be conducted. Specific requests from San Diego will be made after approval for access to AULAQI is obtained from Yemen officials. b7E (U) (S) FBIHQ CTD has authorized the following tearline for appropriate dissemination to the host government services of Yemen for information and followup:

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UNCLASSIFIED

(U) According to published news reports, ANWAR NASSER AULAQI, aka ANWAR AL-AWLAKI, ABU ATIQ, date of birth April 22, 1971 was arrested in Yemen. FBI is requesting approval from Yemen authorities to interview AULAQI regarding his involvement in International Terrorism, to include his association with September 11, 2001 AL-QAEDA hijackers NAWAF AL-HAZMI, KHALID AL-MIHDHAR, HANI HANJOUR and unknown others; his overseas travel in the years 2000 and 2001; his association with San Diego individuals believed to be involved with International Terrorism; his involvement in fund raising in the United States for known terrorist organizations; and his involvement in criminal activity in an effort to support terrorist organizations.

(U) ANWAR AULAQI resided in San Diego, California from late 1995 to August 2000. AULAQI served as Imam of the Al-Ribat Mosque during this time. September 11, 2001 AL-QAEDA hijackers NAWAF AL-HAZMI and KHALID AL-MIHDHAR resided in San Diego during the SECRET

SECRET year 2000. While it is known that AULAQI had contacts with AL-HAZMI and AL-MIHDHAR in San Diego, California and AULAQI may have had contacts with AL-HAZMI and HANI HANJOUR at the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque in Falls Church, Virginia, their exact relationship remains unclear.

UNCLASSIFIED

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SECRET

SECRET

ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED DATE 12-08-2012 BY 65179 DMH/MJS

U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

File No. MOI 06 057

Dr. [illegible] Ministry of Interior Republic of Yemen Sana'a, Yemen

1 December 2006 b6 b7C

Re: ANWAR NASSER AULAQI, aka ANWAR AL-AWLAKI, ABU ATIQ

Dear Sir:

We appreciate the long-standing and successful relationship between our offices. We respectfully request your office's assistance in obtaining information on a pending United States investigation, on ANWAR NASSER AULAQI, aka ANWAR AL-AWLAKI, ABU ATIQ.

WARNING: (U) THIS INFORMATION IS BEING RELEASED TO YOUR SERVICE FOR INTELLIGENCE AND LEAD PURPOSES OF YOUR GOVERNMENT ONLY. THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE USED IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING OR DISSEMINATED TO ANY OTHER AGENCY WITHIN YOUR GOVERNMENT, NOR MAY IT BE SHARED WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, WITHOUT THE ADVANCED AUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) HEADQUARTERS.

(U) THE FBI RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS ANY INFORMATION THAT YOUR SERVICE MAY POSSESS ON THE INDIVIDUAL REPORTED IN THIS COMMUNICATION. THE INDIVIDUAL LISTED BELOW IS OF INVESTIGATIVE INTEREST TO THE FBI BECAUSE OF HIS LINKS TO SUBJECTS AND EVENTS RELATED TO ONGOING NATIONAL SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS.

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ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED DATE 12-07-2012 BY 65179 DMH/MJS

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UNCLASSIFIED

(U) According to published news reports, ANWAR NASSER AULAQI, aka ANWAR AL-AWLAKI, ABU ATIQ, date of birth April 22, 1971 was arrested in Yemen. FBI is requesting approval from Yemen authorities to interview AULAQI regarding his involvement in International Terrorism, to include his association with September 11, 2001 AL-QAEDA hijackers NAWAF AL-HAZMI, KHALID AL- MIHDHAR, HANI HANJOUR and unknown others; his overseas travel in the years 2000 and 2001; his association with San Diego individuals believed to be involved with International Terrorism; his involvement in fund raising in the United States for known terrorist organizations; and his involvement in criminal activity in an effort to support terrorist organizations.

(U) ANWAR AULAQI resided in San Diego, California from late 1995 to August 2000. AULAQI served as Imam of the Al-Ribat Mosque during this time. September 11, 2001 AL-QAEDA hijackers NAWAF AL-HAZMI and KHALID AL-MIHDHAR resided in San Diego during the year 2000. While it is known that AULAQI had contacts with AL- HAZMI and AL-MIHDHAR in San Diego, California and AULAQI may have had contacts with AL-HAZMI and HANI HANJOUR at the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque in Falls Church, Virginia, their exact relationship remains unclear.

UNCLASSIFIED

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We thank you in advance for your assistance regarding this matter.

If your office has any questions regarding this request, please feel free to contact me at the Legal Attache office, telephone number [redacted] via cellular phone [redacted]

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Respectfully,

Legal Attache Office