121/02
19 November 2002
GORDON BROWN ORDERS FREEZE ON FINANCES OF
AL QA’IDA FUND-RAISER
Chancellor Gordon Brown today instructed UK financial institutions to freeze any accounts belonging to the Benevolence International Foundation.
Announcing the asset freeze, the Chancellor said:
“At home and abroad we continue to bear down on the funding of terrorism. Benevolence International Foundation (BIF) raises funds for Al Qa’ida and Usama bin Laden. BIF operates as an international organisation with offices around the world and is extensively involved in funding international terrorism.
“I have no doubt that in taking concerted international action today we are cutting off the finances of an extremely threatening fundraiser for terrorism.
“Here in the UK the police have acted swiftly against terrorist suspects, with significant seizures of terrorist funds”.
Notes for Editors
- The Chancellor has instructed the Bank of England to ensure that all financial institutions should freeze the assets of Benevolence International Foundation from 00.01 Tuesday 19 November
- Strong evidence links Benevolence International Foundation with Al Qa’ida and Usama bin Laden. This includes personal contacts between senior BIF officials and Al Qa’ida operatives involved in the 1998 bombings of two US Embassies in Africa and attempts by Al Qa’ida to obtain uranium for the purpose of building a nuclear weapon.
- Enaam Araout, BIF’s Chief Executive Officer was recently indicted in the US for operating BIF as a racketeering enterprise and providing material support to organisations, including Al Qa’ida.
- The Charity Commission is taking action under its own legislation against a similarly named UK charity ‘Benevolence International (UK)’. Although the Charity Commission has no immediate grounds for suspecting this organization, it is taking action to freeze the charity’s accounts as a temporary and protective measure.