Directly targeting the world's most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden, the US today slapped sanctions against his son-in-law Muhammad Abdallah Hasan Abu al-Khayr, who is now considered as the key leader of the al-Qaeda's finance network.
Al-Khayr, who married Osama's daughter after serving as elusive terrorist's bodyguard for a number of years, has been named as al-Qaeda's chief financial officer after the slaying of Mustafa Abu al-Yazid in a US drone attack.
He also acts for al-Qaeda in a leadership role on the media committee and has on at least one occasion recruited a member for it.
Slapping the sanctions, US under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Stuart Levey said, "Today's designation of al-Khayr by the US and the UN will help to ensure that that al-Qaeda remains in severe financial straits."
Al-Khayr appears on a 2009 list of 85 persons wanted by the government of Saudi Arabia, in part because of his role as an al-Qaeda financial facilitator.
He has transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars for a specific terrorist attack against US interests, the treasury department said in a statement.
His relationship with al-Qaeda began with military training the terrorist group provided him in the mid-1990s. He has also provided services to Osama bin Laden as a bodyguard.
"After the death in May of Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, who essentially served as al-Qaeda's chief financial officer, we will continue to work with our allies to target those like al-Khayr who could step into al-Yazid's shoes," said Levey.
