The powerful online voice of jihad,Shadowy cleric revered by disenchanted Muslim youths throughout West cited in Toronto 18 case

A Facebook page for Anwar al Awlaki has 4,800 fans. He has been cited as an inspiration for extremist plots.FACEBOOK

In a snowy field near Barrie, a group of young Muslim men listened intently to the eloquent voice emanating from the laptop.Anwar al Awlaki preached in perfect Arabic and flawless English about the need to fight in the name of religion, because the "world is united in fighting Islam."The time for jihad is now, no matter your training, he told members of the group that would later become known as the Toronto 18. Six months following that "training camp," those youths were rounded up in Canada's largest post-9/11 terrorism investigation and charged with plotting to blow up downtown Toronto and military targets.Zakaria Amara, the leader of that group, entered a surprise guilty plea earlier this month. A date for his sentencing is to be set on Tuesday...MORE..http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/711964--the-powerful-online-voice-of-jihad