Australia imposes sanctions on Egypt-based militant group

Canberra: Australia today imposed financial sanctions on the Egypt-based militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement that the sanctions accorded with a United Nations Security Council resolution on preventing and suppressing terrorist acts. Breaching the sanctions carries a potential maximum 10 years in prison.

The United States imposed similar sanctions on the group in October last year. The US State Department said the group was sympathetic to al-Qaida but was not a formal affiliate.

Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis was founded in 2011 and has attacked the Israeli city of Eilat and a Sinai pipeline. The group has also tried to assassinate Egyptian officials and claimed attacks on military and tourist targets.