Family of Samir Khan releases statement on son's death

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — The family of a Charlotte man who was linked to the terrorist group al-Qaeda has questions about his death.

Samir Khan was killed last week in a U.S. airstrike.

Khan died alongside Anwar al-Awlaki, who was described as the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Khan was a student at Central Piedmont Community College.

He moved to Yemen where he started a magazine for the terrorist group.

Khan's family released the following statement to media outlets on Thursday:

"We, the family of Samir Khan, in our time of grief and mourning, request that the media let us have our peace and privacy during this difficult time. It has been stated in the media that Samir was not the target of the attack; however no US official has contacted us with any news about the recovery of our son's remains, nor offered us any condolences. As a result, we feel appalled by the indifference shown to us by our government.

Being a law abiding citizen of the United States our late son Samir Khan never broke any law and was never implicated of any crime. The Fifth Amendment states that no citizen shall be "deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" yet our government assassinated two if its citizens. Was this style of execution the only solution? Why couldn't there have been a capture and trial? Where is the justice? As we mourn our son, we must ask these questions.

Sincerely, The Khan Family."

WSOC