Al Qaeda targeting more American jihadist recruits in Yemen

Washington, Jan 11 (ANI): An Al-Qaeda outfit in Yemen, also known as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), is targeting more American jihadist recruits, the US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI has warned.

A new FBI/Homeland Security intelligence bulletin, obtained by Fox News, said that AQAP is determined to cultivate new American recruits and suggested a new memorial video, released in late December after the group leader Anwar Al-Awlaki's death in a CIA-led strike, may prompt his followers to act.

"We have no indication that the timing of the video's release or any content ... is related to specific, ongoing plotting against the homeland," federal law enforcement and military are urged "to remain vigilant for signs of terrorist plotting and to report suspicious activities," the bulletin said.

According to the report, analysts believe that the new tribute video "encourages Western-based Muslims to commit violence," and that the "video could inspire violent extremists in the West to conduct attacks."

Awlaki, who appeared in the video released on December 20, said that "jihad against America is binding."

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Peter King, pointed out that killing Awlaki and killing his ideas are two completely different things.

"Al-Awlaki-even though he is dead-his impact is going to continue probably more than anyone in the Islamic terrorist world. He was able to connect with Americans and his tapes, his words, his impact is going to live on. We have to keep that in mind. Al-Awlaki is dead but unfortunately his hate lives on," King said.

According to the report, the warning was revealed as two new cases, one in Florida, the other in Maryland, underscore the threat of digital jihad.

According to a criminal complaint released on Monday, 25-year-old Sami Osmakac was accused of attempting to use car bombs to target two Florida nightclubs, a sheriff's office.

In the second case, 24-year-old Maryland native Craig Baxam, a former member of the Army, was accused of traveling to Somalia to join the al Qaeda affiliate, al-Shabaab. (ANI)