Man behind Peshawar school attack and Malala shooting deemed 'global terrorist' by U.S.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The United States has designated Mullah Fazlullah, the leader of the terror organization Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a "global terrorist."

The terror designation comes nearly a month after TTP, under Fazlullah's leadership, claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, that killed at least 148, most of whom were students.

Fazlullah was elected head of TTP in November 2013 after former TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud's death.

"Prior to becoming the leader of TTP," the State Department added, "Fazlullah claimed he was behind the killing of Pakistani Army Major General Sanaullah Niazi in September 2013, as well as ordering the shooting of schoolgirl and activist Malala Yousafzai in 2012. Fazlullah was responsible for the beheading of 17 Pakistani soldiers after an attack in June 2012 and also ordered the targeted killings of elders who led peace committees against the Taliban."

The designation, authorized under Executive Order 13224, targets terrorists and supporters of terrorists or acts of terrorism. It prohibits U.S. persons from doing business with Fazlullah, and any property he holds within the U.S. will be frozen.