"Al Qaeda Cleric's Recordings Sold at Va. Store," by Erick Stakelbeck for CBN News, June 2:
WASHINGTON -- Some U.S. intelligence officials believe al Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki is now the world's most influential Islamic terrorist, surpassing even Osama bin Laden.
In recent months, al-Alwaki's jihadi "street cred" has risen to new levels.
He exchanged e-mails with Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hassan and mentored Christmas Day "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. He also reportedly served as the inspiration for Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad.
For more on this investigation, Pat Robertson spoke with CBN News Terrorism Analyst Erick Stakelbeck on the Wednesday, June 2 edition of The 700 Club. Click play to watch the interview.
U.S. officials want al-Awlaki taken out.
They missed that chance just a few years back, when al-Awlaki was imam of the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.
Al-Awlaki has since fled to Yemen. But a CBN News investigation has revealed that the al Qaeda cleric's presence is still being felt in the leafy suburb of Falls Church, just minutes from the nation's capital.
The Last Place You'd Look
It seems like the last place you'd find CDs and DVDs by al Awlaki. But that's exactly what CBN News found during a recent visit to Halalco, a Muslim supermarket in Falls Church.
Halalco is the largest store of its kind in the Washington, D.C. area.
In addition to halal meat, the store carries a large selection of Islamic books, recordings and clothing.
In an exclusive investigation, CBN News discovered that Halalco was also selling CDs and DVDs by none other than al-Awlaki.
In the store, was a display devoted entirely to al-Awlaki's works just one day after he released a video calling for the killing of U.S. civilians.
When Halaco's management was asked for comment, CBN News was told to come back the following day to speak with store owner Abdul Mateen Chida.
The next day, the al-Awlaki display was gone. CBN News asked Chida about the sudden change.
"We have removed them now," he replied.
When asked whether the display would still be up had CBN News never inquired about it, Chida answered, "...it is possible."
Might as well start selling bomb making material packaged with instructions on building car bombs. I'll bet the owner of that store would tell you he's a moderate Muslim, too.
