LONDONDERRY, Nov 22: Financial institutions in Britain have frozen the accounts of the Benevolence International Foundation (BIF) after accusing it of raising funds for the Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

According to the official sources, strong evidence links the foundation with Al Qaeda and Osama, including personal contacts between senior officials and Al Qaeda operatives suspected of involvement in the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa and alleged attempts by the Al Qaeda to obtain uranium to build a nuclear weapon.

In instructions issued by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, for freezing the accounts, it was said that BIF operated as an international organization with offices around the world and was extensively involved in funding international terrorism.

Announcing the asset freeze, the Chancellor said: “I have no doubt that in taking concerted international action today we are cutting off the finances of an extremely threatening fundraiser for terrorism.

“Here in the UK the police have acted swiftly against terrorist suspects, with significant seizures of terrorist funds,” he said.