US offers $1mn reward to find Osama bin Laden's son
On Thursday, the United States announced a $1 million reward for information on Hamza bin Laden, the son of late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Hamza, dubbed as the "crown prince of jihad", has been on the States' radar for quite some time now. Further, there have been reports of him living in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Syria. Here's more.
Here is the reward announcement
Hamza wants to avenge his father's death
US Department of State said that Hamza is an emerging face of extremism. He allegedly released videos to mobilize his supporters, asking them to attack the US and its allies. Hamza, believed to be 30-year-old and declared a global terrorist, wants to "avenge" his father's death. Osama was hiding in a bungalow in Pakistan's Abbottabad and was killed by US special forces in 2011.
Osama trained Hamza, saw him as his heir
Hamza married the daughter of Mohammed Atta, who hijacked one of the four commercial planes, used to attack the twin towers in 2001. Documents and letters which the US recovered after Osama's death hinted he had been training Hamza as his successor. After Osama's death, his three surviving wives and children were allowed to return to Saudi Arabia, but Hamza didn't follow their path.
Hamza was reportedly under house arrest in Iran
Hamza is believed to have spent years in Iran along with his mother. In the Shia dominated country, he was allegedly put under house arrest by the clerical regime to build pressure on Saudi Arabia and safeguard the country from an attack by Sunni militants. Last year, Hamza's half-brother hinted he might be in Afghanistan but couldn't confirm the same either.
Hamza's videos and messages showed his intentions
At a time when war with ISIS has entered its last stage in Syria, Hamza poses a real threat. In 2015, he allegedly released a video asking jihadists in Syria to unite. He claimed the battle in the war-torn nation will lead to "liberation of Palestine". A year later, he released another message asking the group's followers to overthrow the Saudi regime.
