Al-Qaeda has distributed an audio message on Twitter in which a man it claims is Osama bin Laden's son Hamza calls for attacks on London, Washington, D.C. and other allied cities.
If verified, this would be the first time the group has put Hamza forward as a spokesman in their propaganda. He is believed to be in his mid-twenties and is bin Laden's youngest son.
Hamza was initially reported dead in the 2011 raid in Pakistan which killed his father, but further analysis showed it was another son, Khaled, who had been killed, according to the Telegraph. It is unclear where Hamza was during that raid and his whereabouts since have been unknown.
Since Osama bin Laden's death, al-Qaeda has been led by Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was his right-hand man. Hamza reportedly took part in attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan as early as ten years ago.
Hamza Osama bin Laden calls the muslim youth in the US & West for Jihad "I would recommend secrecy" - Audio Message pic.twitter.com/tUdDk3qq2K— Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) August 14, 2015
Rita Katz, director of SITE intelligence group, analyzed the recording in a series of tweets.
2/ Hamza Bin Laden lived the life of jihad with his father throughout AQ’s creation in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/7NfZh4fhd6— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) August 14, 2015
3/ With Hamza, AQ hopes to renew the popularity of AQ by reviving the brand of ‘AQ = Bin Laden.’ pic.twitter.com/dhA89D2o83— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) August 14, 2015
4/ AQ leadership wants Hamza as a future leader: someone loved & inspirational, without a negative reputation or participation in infighting— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) August 14, 2015
5/ Though Hamza Bin Laden mentioned Jihadi fronts and leaders from around the world, no mention of #ISIS & its leaders— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) August 14, 2015
6/ Hamza Bin Laden's audio was recorded prior to June 2015; He pledged Mullah Omar and sent "special greeting" to Wahayshi.— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) August 14, 2015
7/ Hamza Bin Laden calls to move the war from Kabul, Gaza, & Baghdad, to Washington, London, Paris, & Tel-Aviv. Urges: "This is your duty”— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) August 14, 2015
8/ Hamza BinLaden urged lone wolf attacks in the US and the West; Targeting of Jewish American interests globally.— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) August 14, 2015