Al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki 'spent thousands on prostitutes as he traveled the U.S. spreading his message of radical Islam'



The radical American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki spent thousands of dollars on prostitutes while he traveled the country preaching fundamentalist Islam, it had been revealed.



The FBI, which was tracking al-Awlaki's movements, watched as he met at least seven times with prostitutes in the Washington D.C. area between November 2001 and February 2002, according to newly leaked documents.



The agency estimated he spent $2,300 on hookers in Washington alone. He is also believed to have purchased the services of prostitutes when he traveled to Florida.

Indiscretions: The FBI watched as Anwar al-Awlaki bought sex seven times from prostitutes in the Washington DC area. Agents estimate he spent $2,300 in a few short months

Fox News reports that FBI documents obtained by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch show agents tracked al-Awlaki's history with escorts after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Al-Awlaki was killed in a drone airstrike in Yemen in September 2011 after he was added to a CIA 'kill list.'

U.S. authorities say he encouraged alleged Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan and helped plan the failed underwear bombing attack aboard a Detroit-bound airliner by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in 2009.



His name was linked to 'dozens' of terrorist plots and was called a 'key recruiter' for al-Qaeda in Yemen.

The FBI interviewed several of the women he paid for sex - many of whom were shocked to see the bearded cleric patronize them.



One last fling: 9-11 hijacker Marwan Al-Shehhi reportedly paid $20 for a lap dance shortly before the attacks

One hooker told FBI agents 'she looked through the "peep" hole ... and thought to herself that he looked like Osama bin Laden,' according to Fox.



Al-Awlaki reportedly paid $400 to have sex with the woman. She described him as 'very polite.'

The encounter came at a Washington hotel on Feburary 4, 2002 - one day before he was invited to give a presentation at the Pentagon. Al-Awlaki was recruited by the government speak about outreach to moderate Muslims, it was revealed in 2010.



Another prostitute told the FBI that al-Awlaki paid her $300 to watch as 'as she engaged in erotic behavior and stimulated herself' in December 2001.



They met again for the same activity in January 2002.

Despite al-Awlaki's fundamentalist religious teachings, it appears the married father of five had a history of paying for sex.



He was arrested in 1996 and 1997 for soliciting prostitutes in San Diego. He pleaded guilty and paid a fine.



Al-Awlaki's predilection for prostitutes recalls reports that several 9-11 hijackers traveled to Las Vegas and bought lap dances at strip clubs before the September 11 attacks.









