WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States slapped a terrorist designation on a Norwegian citizen on Tuesday for joining Al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen, where, according to the State Department, he was taught to make explosives.

Anders Cameroon Ostensvig Dale was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

"As a result of the designation, all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Dale has any interest is blocked and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Dale or to his benefit," the State Department said in a statement.

He is accused of traveling multiple times to Yemen between 2008 and 2011, and joining the extremist network Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

"As part of AQAP, Dale has received terrorist training and was taught to make bomb-belts, improvised explosive devices, and larger explosives used in car bombs," the department said.

In a note to the Office of the Federal Register affirming the designation, Secretary of State John Kerry wrote that Dale, also known as Abu Abdurrahman the Norwegian, "committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States".

Washington designated AQAP as a terrorist organisation in early 2010 and has since branded many of its leaders, including Qasim al-Rimi and Nasir al-Wahishi, as specially designated global terrorists.