New York, Oct 1 : New York City police have reportedly been put on alert over fears of possible revenge attacks following the U. S. killing of American-born militant Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen.

Awlaki, identified by U. S. intelligence as ''chief of external operations'' for al Qaeda''s Yemen branch and a Web-savvy propagandist for the Islamist cause, was killed in a CIA drone attack in a remote Yemeni town, U. S. officials said.

“We know al-Awlaki had followers in the United States including New York City, and for that reason we remain alert to the possibility that someone might want to avenge his death. He was a powerful recruiter of terrorists in the United States,” the Daily Mail quoted police commissioner Ray Kelly as saying in a statement.

Kelly also welcomed the reported death of a second English-speaking al Qaeda operative, Samir Khan, an American of Pakistani origin who U. S. and Yemeni officials said they believed was killed in the same drone attack.

“Khan had extensive contacts in New York City and published the English language Inspire Magazine, which instructed lone wolves on how to build bombs at home, and in the most recent issue identified Grand Central Station as a target,” he added. (ANI)