Indian-origin ISIS terrorist designated 'global terrorist' by US
Indian-origin Islamic State terrorist Siddhartha Dhar aka Abu Rumaysah has been designated a global terrorist by the US, along with Belgian-Moroccan citizen Abdelatif Gaini. Sanctions have also been imposed. According to reports, Dhar, a British Hindu who had travelled to Syria with his wife and children in 2014, had become a senior commander of the group. What does this mean for the two?
'Ready to die for ISIS,' Dhar had reportedly said once
Dhar was earlier a member of the now-defunct Al-Muhajiroun, the US State Department said. Dhar, the "New Jihadi John," is suspected to have replaced ISIS executioner Mohammad Emwazi aka "Jihadi John." In 2016, a Yazidi teenager claimed she was kidnapped and trafficked by him. He is also believed to be the masked man seen in a January'16 ISIS video of the execution of "spies."
Belgian-Moroccan Abdelatif Gaini linked to UK-based ISIS sympathizers
Gaini, meanwhile, is suspected to be an ISIS member in the Middle East. Reports have linked him to UK-based ISIS sympathizers Mohamad Ali Ahmed and Humza Ali; both were convicted in the UK in 2016 for terrorism related offences.
What does the US' recent notification mean for the terrorists?
By designating Dhar and Abdelatif Gaini 'Specially Designated Global Terrorists,' they will be denied resources needed to plan and carry out any more terrorist attacks, the US said. Their property under US jurisdiction will be blocked, and any transaction with American citizens prohibited. Today's notification will also alert the global community to the risks these two terrorists present.
