Kingdom acts against Osama bin Laden’s son, who US says has become an al-Qaida leader

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Saudi Arabia has revoked the citizenship of Hamza bin Laden, after the US offered a $1m (£755,000) reward for the the son of the late al-Qaida leader.

The kingdom announced the news on Friday in an order in its official gazette.

Hamza bin Laden’s father, Osama, masterminded the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and was killed in a US military raid in Pakistan 10 years later.

The US State Department said the $1m reward would be paid for help locating Hamza bin Laden in any country as part its “rewards for justice” programme.

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The statement said Bin Laden’s son, who was named a “specially designated global terrorist” in January 2017, had emerged as a leader of al-Qaida.

Hamza bin Laden has released audio and video messages calling for attacks against the US and its allies.