Anwar al-Awlaki 'had been in US custody' In fact, it was simply a revocation of his passport, Judicial Watch said. "These documents provide further evidence that the federal government, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, has been operating a 'catch and release' program for terrorists," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "The idea of inviting al-Awlaki, a known terrorist, to our embassy in Yemen in order to revoke his passport is beyond belief," Fitton said. Prior to his killing Awlaki had been described by the United States as head of external operations for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - a Yemen-based group currently believed to be the terror network's most effective and lethal franchise. Awlaki, a charismatic preacher who was fluent in Arabic and English, was considered a particularly effective global recruiter. President Barack Obama in 2010 had authorised the man's targeted killing after intelligence agencies concluded he was involved in anti-US plots. This targeting was unprecedented - and polemic - for an American citizen. US officials believe Awlaki played a significant role in the attempt to bring down a US airliner over Detroit by an assailant with explosives sewn into his underwear on December 25, 2009. He was also believed to have coordinated the thwarted 2010 plot to blow up cargo aircraft bound for the United States and had called for attacks against US and Arab governments.