U.S. declares Lahbous a specially designated global terrorist

New York – The U.S. Department of State
has designated Mohamed Lahbous as a
Specially Designated Global Terrorist
(SDGT) under an executive order that
targets those linked to terrorism.
Lahbous is a member of The Movement
for Unity and Jihad in West Africa.
The movement was created in September
2011 after the members broke off from
al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in order
to expand their activities into West Africa.
“As a result of the designation, all
property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in
which Lahbous has any interest is blocked
and
U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging
in any transactions with Lahbous or to his
benefit,’’ the U.S. said in a statement on
Wednesday.
It added that as a member of the
organisation, Lahbous has participated in
a number of attacks, including the
October 2011 abduction of three aid
workers from a refugee camp in Western
Algeria.
The statement also noted that Lahbous
participated in June 2012 attack in
Ouargla, Algeria, which killed one and
injured three.
According to it, Lahbous has also been
involved in arms trading and drug
trafficking in North and West Africa. (NAN)