American Al Qaeda Militant Calls for Attacks on U.S. Diplomats, Praises Amb. Stevens' Killers

The notorious American Al Qaeda activist, Adam Gadahn, called for attacks on American diplomats serving in the Arab world and praised the killers of slain U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, in a new video posted on jihadi websites, Reuters reported Sunday morning, quoting a U.S. research institute.

The SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks the threats that Islamist militants issue on the internet, writes that Gadahn “defended the murder of former U.S. Ambassador to Libya John Christopher Stevens and called on jihadis in Libya to kill his successor, and jihadis in the Arab world in general to kill all U.S. and ‘Crusader’ ambassadors.”

Al Qaeda's U.S.-raised spokesman Adam Gadahn as seen in a previous video (Image source: Site Intelligence Group via Getty)

Gadahn issued an appeal to wealthy Muslims to bankroll rewards for potential attackers willing to kill ambassadors serving in the Middle East.

"These prizes have a great effect in instilling fear in the hearts of our cowardly enemies," Gadahn said in the 39-minute Arabic video which was posted on Islamist websites, according to SITE.

"They also encourage hesitant individuals to carry out important and great deeds in the path of Allah," he said, according to SITE’s translation cited by Reuters.

Stevens and three other American officials were killed in the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 11 of last year.

The State Department earlier this month ordered 19 U.S. embassies and consulates in the Middle East and Africa temporarily closed after reports of a possible terrorist threat.

Reuters reports that the Yemen-based Al Qaeda affiliate last year offered “3 kg (106 ounces) of gold for the killing of the U.S. ambassador in Sanaa or 5 million rials ($23,350) for an American soldier” in Yemen.

Gadahn was born in California and converted to Islam. The FBI website writes, “Adam Yahiye Gadahn was indicted in the Central District of California for treason and material support to Al Qaeda. The charges are related to Gadahn's alleged involvement in a number of terrorist activities, including providing aid and comfort to Al Qaeda and services for Al Qaeda.”

The State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program, is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest.

The U.S.-raised jihadi has previously called for attacks on U.S. diplomats, including in 2007 when he asserted that Al Qaeda would attack U.S. embassies in retaliation for U.S. military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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