Overview
Haytham Ahmad Shukri Ahmad Al-Maghrabi is a U.S.-designated Egyptian member of al-Qaeda in Brazil. Al-Maghrabi was designated by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on December 22, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support to al-Qaeda.“Designation of al-Qa’ida Network in Brazil,” U.S. Department of State, December 22, 2021, https://www.state.gov/designation-of-al-qaida-network-in-brazil/.
In 2015, Al-Maghrabi arrived in Brazil, where he was one of the initial members of al-Qaeda’s base in the country.“Treasury Designates al-Qa’ida Support Network in Brazil,” U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil, December 22, 2021, https://br.usembassy.gov/treasury-designates-al-qaida-support-network-in-brazil/. According to the Treasury Department, Al-Maghrabi was involved with the financial aspects of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Brazil. Al-Maghrabi allegedly carried out frequent contact and business dealings to include the purchase of foreign currency.“Designation of al-Qa’ida Network in Brazil,” U.S. Department of State, December 22, 2021, https://www.state.gov/designation-of-al-qaida-network-in-brazil/.
According to media reports, Al-Maghrabi reported to and was the Brazil-based contact for the U.S.-designated Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali—one of the 22 suspects who plotted the twin U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.Robert Windrem, “Slow-motion manhunt: US relentlessly pursues '98 embassy bombing suspects,” NBC News, October 8, 2013, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/slow-motion-manhunt-us-relentlessly-pursues-98-embassy-bombing-suspects-flna8c11354614; “Treasury Designates al-Qa’ida Support Network in Brazil,” U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil, December 22, 2021, https://br.usembassy.gov/treasury-designates-al-qaida-support-network-in-brazil/.
Given Al-Maghrabi’s history of material and financial support to al-Qaeda’s affiliate network in Brazil, on December 22, 2021, the Treasury Department designated Al-Maghrabi as an SDGT.“Designation of al-Qa’ida Network in Brazil,” U.S. Department of State, December 22, 2021, https://www.state.gov/designation-of-al-qaida-network-in-brazil/.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Al-Qaeda
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Non-state actor, religious, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Jihadist, pan-Islamist, Qutbist, Salafist, Sunni, takfiri
- Position(s):
- Financial operative
Al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks was the deadliest ever on American soil, killing nearly 3,000 people. Since the fall of the Taliban, al-Qaeda has established operations worldwide, including in Syria, the Gulf, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
History
United States
On December 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designates Haytham Ahmad Shukri Ahmad Al-Maghrabi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).“Notice of OFAC Sanctions Action,” Federal Register, January 6, 2022, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/01/06/2022-00001/notice-of-ofac-sanctions-action.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
In Their Own Words:
We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].
Mar. 2023