<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/al-qaeda/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula</a> has issued a threat to execute any U.S. nationals it kidnaps if the U.S. government proceeds with the scheduled execution of Nidal Hasan, the shooter from the 2009 <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/fort-hood/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fort Hood</a> incident.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a statement released on Monday, Al Qaeda stated, “the day America makes this decision,” referring to Hasan's execution, “it will have made a decision to execute whoever among you falls captive to us.” The group expressed support for Hasan, who killed over a dozen individuals, as well as for an Omani suicide attacker who attempted to <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/4761395/flydubai-hijack-crash-plane-ben-gurion-airport-familiarized-himself-with-airport/?srsltid=AU7gw4XBxeI4msUxWsvRHRzZ30fYHuLhfmQ6c3BMWLXj6rFbBSegmWUh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fly a plane into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport</a> this month.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hasan was responsible for the deaths of 13 people and injuries to 32 others during a shooting at a medical center for soldiers at <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/texas/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Texas’s</a> Fort Hood military base in 2009. He was sentenced to death in August 2013 after being found guilty on 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4756741/firing-squad-execution-fort-hood-shooter-december/?itm_source=parsely-api" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">approved</a> Hasan’s execution by firing squad last week, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. on December 3 at Fort Hood.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Al Qaeda’s threat suggests it aims to influence the U.S. to halt Hasan’s execution, which is already set. Hasan is connected to al Qaeda through the now-deceased recruiter Anwar al Awlaki, <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2011/07/accused-fort-hood-shooter-could-face-death-penalty-058416" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">according</a> to multiple <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/08/hegseth-fort-hood-shooter-public-execution" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reports</a>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The upcoming execution has garnered attention in the U.S. following an announcement by War Secretary <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/pete-hegseth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pete Hegseth</a> that Hasan’s execution<a href="https://x.com/petehegseth/status/2108344900165263476?s=46" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> would be livestreamed</a> for public viewing.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The Secretary is correct. It will be livestreamed. Details will follow,” a War Department official stated to the <em>Washington Examiner</em> on Monday regarding Al Qaeda’s statement.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense/4761013/army-plans-livestream-execution-fort-hood-killer-nidal-hegseth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ARMY’S PLANS TO LIVESTREAM THE EXECUTION OF FORT HOOD SHOOTER</a></strong></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Initially, Trump expressed that he “absolutely” approved the decision to livestream the execution, but later indicated that a final decision had not been made. He stated, “There are two thoughts: don’t show it and show it,” adding that showing it might deter similar actions in the future. “I’ll make a decision ultimately. I know what the military would like to do, but we’ll make a decision.”</p>