David Letterman Targeted With Threat From Jihadist Website

Group lashed out at late night host over his jokes about an Al Qaeda leader.By Gil Kaufman





David Letterman

Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images




David Letterman is currently on hiatus, but that hasn't stopped the late night legend from angering some people with comments he made before taking off for summer vacation.
According to reports from SITE Intelligence Group, which scans the Internet for terrorist activity, Letterman has been marked for death by a jihadist group for comments the "Late Show" host made on June 5 about Al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri, who was killed earlier this summer during a U.S. military strike in Pakistan.
The threat on the Shumukh al-Islam web forum, which called for followers to "cut the tongue of the lowly Jew and shut it forever," said that Letterman -- who is Protestant -- should be punished for his comments about the man who had been considered a possible replacement for late terror leader Osama bin Laden.
"He showed his evil nature and deep hatred for Islam and Muslims, and said that Ilyas Kashmiri was killed and he joined bin Laden," wrote someone calling themselves Umar al-Basrawi on the site, according to Entertainment Weekly. "We ask Allah to paralyze his tongue and grant the sincere monotheists his neck."
The FBI is reportedly investigating the threat and Letterman has been informed of the posting. The incident appears to have been inspired by a joke Letterman made in which he announced the death of Kashmiri, which involved the comedian making a slashing motion across his throat.
"So Al Qaeda picked a succesor to Osama bin Laden and his name is Ilyas Kashmiri," Letterman said during his monologue. "Well, guess what? He was blown up by an American drone. It wasn't going to work anyway because they got off to a rocky start with this guy ... He botched up the story of Paul Revere."
"He said that Kashmiri was killed in an airstrike in Pakistan ... then, he showed his evil nature and deep hatred for Islam and Muslims, and said that Ilyas Kashmiri was killed and he joined bin Laden. Then the despicable one put his hand on his neck and demonstrated the way of slaughter!!" wrote al-Basrawi.

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