Treasury Designates Al-QA’IDA Member

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated German national Bekkay Harrach, an al-Qa'ida member believed to be currently located in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, for acting for or on behalf of al-Qa'ida. Today's action, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, freezes any assets Bekkay Harrach has under U.S. jurisdiction, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Harrach.

"Harrach's activities are a stark reminder that al-Qa'ida continues to attempt to terrorize the German people and others involved in the fight against terrorism," said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. "The international community must redouble its efforts to use all tools – including the United Nations' powerful sanctions – to thwart al-Qa'ida's objectives."

According to investigations by the German Federal Public Prosecutor, there is reason to believe that Bekkay Harrach has been a member of al-Qa'ida since March 2007, during which time he received military training at an al-Qa'ida camp. In addition, he has made threats regarding terrorist activities and suicide attacks that were distributed in Germany via the al-Qa'ida media office.

Bekkay Harrach was added to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee's Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with al-Qa'ida, Usama bin Laden, and the Taliban in May 2009. Inclusion on the 1267 Committee's list triggers international obligations on all member countries, requiring them to freeze the funds and other assets of listed individuals and entities and to apply other sanctions, including a travel ban and an arms embargo.

Additional information on Bekkay Harrach is provided in the public statement of the case supporting his inclusion on the 1267 Committee's Consolidated list and is available at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/sc9667.doc.htm


Identifying Information:

HARRACH, Bekkay
AKA:
Al Hafidh Abu Talha der Deutsche (the German)
Nationality:
German
DOB:
September 4, 1977
POB:
Berkane, Morocco
German Passport:
5208116575
Issued: Bonn
Expiring: September 7, 2013
German Federal Identity Card:
5209243072
Issued: Bonn
Expiring: September 7, 2013
Driver's License:
J17001W6Z12
Issued: Bonn
Other Information:
Believed to be in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border area