A chilling audio message has been released by terror group Al-Qaeda that it claims has come from jihadist Hamza Bin Laden, a son of Osama Bin Laden.
The audio, which includes a call for lone-wolf attacks on the west, is believed to be the first time al-Qaeda propaganda has presented Hamza Bin Laden as an official member of the militant group.
The BBC reports the message, introduced by current terror chief Ayman al-Zawahirishared and shared by al-Qaeda supporters on Twitter, carries audio of Hamza Bin Laden urging individual attacks on the US and its allies including the UK and France as well as Israel.
Osama Bin Laden was killed by US special forces in 2011 in a raid on his compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan. The group has since been led by al-Qaeda’s former second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Hamza Bin Laden’s whereabouts are not known. He is believed to be aged between 22 and 24 and has appeared in sick Al Qaeda videos before as a young boy, with security chiefs believing he was groomed to inherit his father’s empire.
He has previously featured on a extremist website on the third anniversary of the 7/7 bombings, which killed 52 people. Then he read a poem calling for the destruction of America, Britain, France and Denmark.
During the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the Al-Jazeera network broadcast footage that appeared to show him among Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
Hamza’s audio lecture, released on an al-Qaeda website, exhorts followers in Kabul, Baghdad and Gaza to “do your duty” and wage jihad, or holy war, on Washington, London, Paris and Tel Aviv.
According to Rita Katz, director of the terrorist intelligence group SITE, “AQ leadership wants Hamza as a future leader: someone loved & inspirational, without a negative reputation or participation in infighting.”
Ms Katz added: “Though Hamza Bin Laden mentioned Jihadi fronts and leaders from around the world, no mention of ISIS and its leaders.”
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