Belgian terrorist suspect arrested in Romania: Americans promised up to $10 million

Sylvie Claire / February 26, 2023

A Belgian suspected of terrorism has been arrested in Romania. This was announced by the U.S. Department of Defense, which suspects him of having financially supported Hezbollah. The United States had promised up to 10 million dollars for any information leading to him. The man is Belgian-Lebanese, he is 58 years old. He will be extradited to the United States where he faces up to decades in prison.

Mohammad Bazzi, a 58-year-old Belgian-Lebanese, was arrested Friday at Bucharest airport, the U.S. Department of Defense reported. The individual is suspected by the latter of having financially supported Hezbollah. The Americans promised up to 10 million dollars for any information leading to him.

The suspect was arrested upon arrival at the airport. He will be extradited to the United States, where he faces decades in prison, prosecutor Breon Peace reported. “He thought he could secretly move hundreds of thousands of dollars from the United States to Lebanon. His arrest today proves that he was wrong,” he said.

The Treasury Department designated Bazzi as a terrorist back in 2018 for his alleged support of the activities of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite political movement considered terrorist by the United States as well as several other countries in its wake. The individual is also being prosecuted for money laundering.

Mohammad Bazzi, presented as a “key Hezbollah financier” by the American justice system, is said to have showered the Lebanese party with millions of dollars amassed through companies operating in Belgium, Lebanon, Iraq and West Africa. These, too, have been on sanctions lists since 2018.