NEW YORK, July 12 (UPI) -- U.S. security officials said they consider a threat to a Seattle cartoonist made by al-Qaida to be a legitimate and serious security concern.
Al-Qaida propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki through the terrorist organization's "Inspire" Internet magazine said Seattle cartoonist Molly Norris doesn't deserve to live, The New York Daily News reports.
Awlaki in his message blasted Norris for a May cartoon posted on her Web site that lampoons media company Viacom for censuring an episode of Comedy Central's "South Park," which depicted the Prophet Mohammed dressed in a bear suit. Morris in her cartoon declared May 20 "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day."
Awlaki, a U.S.-born cleric hiding in Yemen, says Morris doesn't deserve to live.
"A soul that is so debased, as to enjoy the ridicule of the messenger of Allah, the mercy to mankind; a soul that is so ungrateful toward its lord that it defames the Prophet of the religion Allah has chosen for his creation does not deserve life, does not deserve to breathe the air," the statement read.
FBI official told Norris they consider the Awlaki statement to be a "very serious threat," the Daily News reports.
The alleged shooter in the Fort Hood, Texas, rampage in November and the alleged would-be bomber of a U.S. passenger plane bound Christmas Day for Detroit were in contact with Awlaki prior to their attacks.
The cleric is on Washington's hit list.
