New Hamas chief's UK funds are frozen

Telegraph Co UK ^ | Andrew Sparrow

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Gordon Brown ordered British banks yesterday to freeze assets held in the name of the new Hamas leader in Gaza, Abdel Aziz Rantisi.

Using anti-terrorism powers introduced after the September 11 attacks in America, the Chancellor acted to prevent Rantisi - who has succeeded the assassinated Sheikh Ahmed Yassin - and four other Hamas leaders from gaining access to money held in British accounts.   He also instructed the Bank of England to freeze the assets of two Kurdish terrorist groups.

Treasury officials refused to give details of the various accounts involved or what sums were involved.

Mr Brown told MPs that the order demonstrated his determination to put Britain at the forefront of the international crackdown on terrorist finances. He said some other European Union countries could do more to help.

Although Rantisi has just been named as a successor to Sheikh Yassin, who was killed by Israel on Monday, the Treasury said the timing was a coincidence. It had been acquiring evidence to justify the asset freeze for some time.

Under the terms of the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001, the Chancellor targeted Rantisi on the grounds that he commits, facilitates or participates in the commission of acts in terrorism.

Rantisi has claimed personal responsibility for the killing of a police colonel in the Palestinian Authority. He has also called for the creation of "martyrdom cells" in Iraq and urged Palestinians to "kill [Israelis] wherever you find them".

The other four Hamas figures, whose assets have been frozen on similar grounds, are:

Imad Khalil Al-Alam, a member of the Hamas political bureau in Damascus, and a military operations leader.

Usama Hamdan, a senior official based in Lebanon and suspected of involvement in the movement of weapons, explosives and personnel to the West Bank and Gaza.

Khalid Mishaal, chief of the political bureau in Damascus and thought to control military cells in the West Bank planning major attacks.

Musa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of the political bureau and believed to direct and co-ordinate terror attacks in Israel and the occupied territories.

The two Kurdish groups whose assets have been frozen are Kadek and Kongra-Gel, both front organisations for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The Government has frozen a total of £70 million in terrorist assets in recent years, although most of that was Taliban money that has now been made available to its successor government in Afghanistan.

Mr Brown's announcement takes the number of accounts frozen to 45.

Giving evidence to the Commons Treasury committee, he said: "We know that those who finance and organise terror are every bit as guilty as individual perpetrators. And our resolve to prevent the finance of terrorism must be every bit as determined as our resolve to tackle the terrorist outrages."

Without naming nations, he said he would be pressing some EU member states to do more to combat terrorism.

"The EU adopted an action plan to combat terrorism in September 2001," he said.

"But in addition to the six countries that have not implemented the EU arrest warrant and many more still to approve the joint investigation teams to deal with cross-border crimes, a number of countries have still to ratify the measure to monitor bank accounts across borders."

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Oh, dear. What deuced rotten luck for Rantisi, eh, wot? Now however is he going to be able to pay off all those eight- and ten-year-old future marttyrs for the glory of Allah...? :)

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Ping.

[kcvl]

At $23 each, no less.

[GeronL]

Without Saddams cash, they find it hard to recruit adults

[GATOR NAVY]

Better late than never. They just discovered Hamas is a terrorist group?

[Guillermo]

Apparently Jews control British banks too, eh? lol

[Moonman62]

But I thought it was poverty that caused these guys to be terrorists.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

But I thought it was poverty that caused these guys to be terrorists.

A common misconception.

Actually, it's BREATHING which causes Islamofascists to become terrorists. :)

[tubavil]

Although Rantisi has just been named as a successor to Sheikh Yassin, who was killed by Israel on Monday, the Treasury said the timing was a coincidence.
____________________________________
Right. Also a coincidence that this happens right after hamas threatens Americans everywhere and the "terrorist government" of the US.

Death to rantisi. Death to HAMAS.

[DannyTN]

Who's next? Who wants to lead Hamas? Any takers?

[DannyTN]

"At $23 each, no less.

We've got to get over there and make them a better offer.

I know. How about the following:

• Accept Jesus as your savior and you go to paradise.
• You don't have to blow your self up, instead you get to have life and live it more abundantly.
• You don't have to kill anyone else, in fact you get to practice loving others.
• You don't get $23.00, but then it was pointless if you were going to blow yourself up anyway. Plus you live and can work and earn much more than $23.00, even in Palestine.
• You don't get 72 virgins with black eyes, but God will personally see that your needs will be met and you will be happy.

[hattend]

Could somebody with Photoshop take the crying baby picture from the "official seal of the Democrat party" and put Arafat's head gear on it?

I would then have a pic to post everytime a Hamas/PLO thread comes up.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Related thread:

Hamas linked to area housing (Washington DC)

Hamas was designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization in 1991. Although the number of hard-core members is unknown, supporters and sympathizers have been placed in the tens of thousands. Much of its fund raising takes place in the United States.

[freedomson]

Good one!

[nuconvert]

BUMP

[American in Israel]

Actually, it's BREATHING which causes Islamofascists to become terrorists. :)

Saruman was cured of that problem, may the rest find a cure soon.

[breakem]

uh, why was the money not already frozen?

[tubavil]

Thanks for the link. When I pull up the database, I'll post there and ping you.

[Atchafalaya]

I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers.