U.S. officials believe al-Awlaki played an important role in the failed December 2009 underwear bomb plot and also the thwarted October 2010 cargo bomb plot . Hasan is accused of killing 13 , wounding 32 in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting . Hasan had communicated via e - mail with Islamic militant Anwar al - Awlaki before shooting . Officials believe Hasan was e - mailing al - Awlaki starting in December of 2009 . ` ` An interview would have been prudent , '' an FBI official told a congressional hearing .
Hasan is accused of killing 13 , wounding 32 in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting . Hasan had communicated via e - mail with Islamic militant Anwar al - Awlaki before shooting . Officials believe Hasan was e - mailing al - Awlaki starting in December of 2009 . ` ` An interview would have been prudent , '' an FBI official told a congressional hearing .