US State Department Announces 5 Additions to Global Terrorist List

The State Department announced, on Friday, adding five alleged Islamist militants to its Specially Designated Global Terrorist list.

On his part, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said they required blocking of any ownership or interests in U.S. properties they hold. Also, the designations expose to possible U.S. sanctions inpiduals or foreign financial institutions who engage in certain transactions with the five.

Blinken noted that they included Bonomade Machude Omar, the senior military commander of Islamic State's affiliate in Mozambique.

Omar led a group of extremists who killed dozens of people in an attack on the Amarula Hotel in the town of Palma in March, according to Blinken's statement.

Blinken affirmed that he is responsible for attacks elsewhere in Mozambique and in Tanzania.

Moreover, Sidang Hitta and Salem Ould al-Hasan, senior leaders of Mali-based al Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, also were designated, as were Ali Mohamed Rage and Abdikadir Mohamed Abdikadir, leaders of the al Shabaab group of Somalia.