US blacklists bin Laden’s son

The United States has added Hamza bin Laden, son and heir of the late global jihadist leader Osama bin Laden, to its terrorist blacklist.

Hamza, who is in his mid-20s, has become active as an al-Qaeda propagandist since his father’s death at the hands of US special forces in 2011.

Since bin Laden’s death, his Egyptian deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri has taken up the reins of the organization, but Hamza has issued audio messages to supporters.

The State Department order lists Hamza bin Laden as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” meaning that US citizens are forbidden from dealing with him, and freezes any assets under US jurisdiction.

— AFP