WASHINGTON: The United States on Tuesday put the alleged leader of al Qaeda in Iraq on its special anti-terror blacklist and placed a dollar 10 million bounty on his head.
Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri, also known as Abu Du'a, was added to a US list of “specially designated global terrorists” for his role as a top leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, the State Department said.
“This designation plays a critical role in our fight against terrorism and is an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to abandon terrorism,” a statement said.
In a statement after the death earlier this year of al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden, Abu Du'a threatened violent retaliation, and claimed responsibility for attacks that have left scores of people dead and wounded in Iraq.
The US government said Abu Du'a is responsible for managing and directing large scale terror operations in Iraq, including an August 28, 2011 attack on the Umm al-Qura mosque in Baghdad which killed prominent Sunni lawmaker Khalid al-Fahdawi.
He has vowed to commit many more acts of mass violence, US officials said, including raids, suicide attacks, roadside bombs and small arms attacks in all cities and rural areas across Iraq.
The State Department action includes a prohibition against knowingly providing material support or resources to, or engaging in other transactions with him. It also freezes of any property or interests in property in the United States.
The US government also is offering a dollar 10 million reward for information that leads to Abu Du'a's capture.
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