US Designates Three Individuals Associated with al-Qaeda as Global Terrorists

Policemen deploy during the Mar. 18, 2015 attack on a museum in Tunis. The US says Wanas al-Faqih “planned” the attack.

Washington, MINA – The US designated Thursday Muhammad al-Ghazali, Abukar Ali Adan and Wanas al-Faqih whom are associated with al-Qaeda affiliates al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), al-Shabaab, and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).

These designations impose “strict sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States,” KUNA reported, citing the Department of State in a statement

Among the consequences of these designations, “all of their property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them.”

The statement indicated that Al-Ghazali is a senior member of AQAP who is involved in internal security and training of the group’s operatives, while dan is deputy leader of al-Shabaab and al-Faqih is an AQIM associate “who planned the March 18, 2015 Bardo Museum attack in Tunis, Tunisia that killed at least 20 people.”

“Today’s action notifies the US public and the international community that Muhammad al-Ghazali, Wanas al-Faqih, and Abukar Ali Adan have committed acts of terrorism,” the statement stressed.

It affirmed that terrorism designations “expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and deny them access to the US financial system.

Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of US agencies and other governments.” (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)