WASHINGTON – The United States on Monday took action to financially incapacitate seven Egyptians suspected of providing support to an Egyptian terrorist group that merged with Al Qaeda (search) in 2001.
The Treasury Department's (search) action means any bank accounts or other financial assets belonging to the seven people found in the United States will be blocked. Americans also are forbidden from doing business with them.
The department alleges that the seven individuals have acted on behalf of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (search), a terrorist group that merged with Al Qaeda in 2001.
"The activities of these individuals included training and providing material support to Al Qaeda, as well as conspiring to commit terrorist acts," the department said.
One of the seven, Madhat Mursi Al-Sayyid Umar, was an explosives and chemical substances specialist for Al Qaeda, the department said. Another, Abdullah Muhammad Rajab Abd Al-Rahman, was responsible for coordinating Al Qaeda's work with other terrorist organizations, the agency said.
The others designated by the department are: Hani Muhammad Yusuf Al-Siba'i; Al-Sayyid Ahmad Fathi Husayn Alaywah; Zaki Izzat Zaki Ahmad; Muhammad Ahmad Shawqi Al-Islambuli; and Ali Sa'd Muhammad Mustafa Bakri.
The department said the seven are wanted by Egyptian authorities for their involvement in terrorist activities.
"This action targets the financing mechanisms used by those rogue actors supporting Al Qaeda," said Robert Werner, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The United States is taking the action to comply with a United Nation's (search) asset-blocking list that is followed by member countries.
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