Described by the US as an ’emerging leader’ within al-Qaeda, Hamza has been classified as a ‘terrorist’ by the US since 2017.
Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden's son, Hamza bin Laden (Photo: AFP)
The FBI on Thursday added Hamza bin Laden, the son of slain al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, to it’s Seeking More Information List (SMIL), two months after the US announced a reward of up to USD 1 million for information on his whereabouts.
Hamza is wanted for questioning in connection with his membership in the al-Qaeda and his public declarations threatening the security of the US. He has ties to and may be located in, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, or Iran.
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Described by the US as an “emerging leader” within al-Qaeda, Hamza has been classified as a “terrorist” by the US since 2017.
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In March, the State Department said that it would offer USD 1 million for information leading to his location in any country.
Investigators believe Hamza is married to the daughter of Al-Qaeda senior leader Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, aka Abu Muhammad al Masri, who has been indicted for his involvement in the August 7, 1998, bombings of the US Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.
Earlier in March, the UN Security Council (UNSC)designated Hamza bin Laden, under its sanctions list, subjecting him to a travel ban, assets freeze and an arms embargo as it described him as being seen as the “most probable successor” of the group’s current leader Aiman al-Zawahiri.
Saudi Arabia also announced it had revoked the citizenship of Hamza bin Laden via a royal decree in November.
In January 2017, the State Department had listed Hamza bin Laden as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, freezing all of his assets based in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons. The designation also prohibited US persons from engaging in transactions with him.
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