US sanctions Osama bin Laden’s son

The US State Department has imposed sanctions on Osama bin Laden’s son, Hamza, following an announcement by al-Qaida’s leader in August 2015 that Hamza had joined the terrorist organisation. Hamza has called for acts of terrorism in Western capitals, lone offender attacks against the US, France, and Israel, and violence against Americans in the US and abroad. In addition, the State Department has designated Ibrahim al-Banna, allegedly a senior member of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula who has served as its security chief and threatened to target US citizens.