U.S. Court Denies U.K. Bank’s Motion to Dismiss in Terrorism Financing Case

On September 27, 2006, U.S. District Judge Charles Sifton denied a motion by NatWest Bank PLC to dismiss claims brought by victims of a Hamas attack that NatWest knowingly provided services to a Hamas-linked charity. NatWest, a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland, is defending itself against a suit brought by 15 families of American victims of 2002 and 2003 attacks in Israel. In a civil suit based on the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1992, plaintiffs allege that NatWest aided and abetted murder and attempted murder in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2333(a); knowingly provided material support or resources to a foreign terrorism organization (FTO) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339B; and unlawfully and willfully provided or collected funds with the intention that such funds be used, or with the knowledge that such funds would be used for terrorist purposes in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339C ... [more]