US offers $1m reward for capture of Osama bin Laden's son

Hamza bin Laden was groomed to lead Al Qaeda and has called for attacks on US to avenge his father

In this image from video released by the CIA, Hamza bin Laden is seen as an adult at his wedding. The never-before-seen video of Osama bin Laden's son and potential successor was released Nov. 1, 2017, by the CIA in a trove of material recovered during the May 2011 raid that killed the al-Qaida leader at his compound in Pakistan. The one hourlong video shows Hamza bin Laden, sporting a trimmed mustache but no beard, at his wedding. He is sitting on a carpet with other men. (CIA via AP)

Hamza bin Laden is seen at his wedding in a still from a video seized during the US raid that killed recovered during the May 2011 raid that killed his father Osama. CIA via AP

The National

Mar 01, 2019

The United States has announced a $1 million reward for information leading to the capture of Hamza bin Laden, son of the late Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.

A notice posted on the State Department's Rewards for Justice website on Thursday describes Hamza bin Laden as an "emerging" leader of Al Qaeda, which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US, the bombing of the USS Cole in Aden harbour in October 2000 and the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam.

WANTED. Up to $1 million for information on Hamza bin Laden, an emerging al-Qa'ida leader. Hamza is son of Usama bin Laden and has threatened attacks against the United States and allies. Relocation possible. Submit a tip, get paid. https://t.co/LtBVhsrwTc #RFJ pic.twitter.com/gmx5hkoSzQ
— Rewards for Justice عربي (@Rewards4Justice) February 28, 2019

Hamza bin Laden, believed to be about 30 years old, is married to the daughter of Mohammed Atta, one of the lead hijackers in the 9/11 attacks. He has issued calls to his followers to attack the US in revenge for the killing of his father in May 2011 by US special forces.

Letters seized in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s home in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad suggest that he was grooming his son to take over leadership of Al Qaeda, the State Department said.

The US declared Hamza bin Laden a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2017. His current whereabouts are unknown, but he is believed to operate out of Pakistan, according to the Counter Extremism Project.