Anwar al-Awlaki

Anwar al-Awlaki was a Yemeni-American cleric and influential figure in Islamist extremism. Born in 1971 in the U.S., he became known for his online sermons that advocated jihad and radicalized individuals toward militant actions. Al-Awlaki was linked to multiple terrorist plots, including the Fort Hood shooting and the attempted bombing of a plane in 2009. After becoming a target for U.S. intelligence, he was killed in a drone strike in Yemen in 2011. His case raises important discussions on issues like counterterrorism, free speech, and the impact of the internet on radicalization.