Government Officials: New Mexico Man Linked To Failed Jet Bombing

Government officials say a New Mexico man is linked to the 2009 Christmas Day failed airline bombing, and have added him to a terrorism blacklist.

According to officials, Anwar al-Awlaki was born in Las Cruces and is a key leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian peninsula.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury placed the 39-year-old on its list of specially designated global terrorists. That means any bank accounts found in the United States belonging to him are frozen.

In addition, Americans are forbidden from doing business with him, and al-Awlaki is banned from traveling to the U.S.