Charity, hawala primary means for terrorists to raise funds

The United States has identified charity, hawala and Internet as some of the primary means used by various terror organisations for fund raising and money laundering.

"Charity is a primary mean through which a terror organisation raises funds," Acting Assistant secretary (Terrorist Financing) of US Department of the Treasury Daniel Glaser said here.

Glaser, who also heads the American delegation to the Financial Action Task Force, the premiere international body to fight against money laundering, said efforts are on to empower the donors in such a way that their money actually go to the needy persons rather than end up in financing terror.

He said charities which fund terror should be tracked and shut down.

Glaser, who was speaking at the India Today Conclave, said one of the primary activities of the terror organisations is raising funds and most of such groups have social organisations as a front.

"Terrorists require more funds than what normally many think they need. Funds are not needed just for carrying out a particular terror act. There are other expenses too like accommodation, transport, surveillance, payments and funds meant for brainwashing," he said.