HAMILTON, Canada

The US on Tuesday designated Barrio 18, known as a multi-ethnic street gang in Los Angeles, as a foreign terrorist organization.

"Today, the Department of State is designating Barrio 18 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)," Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement.

Rubio described the gang as "one of the largest gangs in our hemisphere," noting that it "has conducted attacks against security personnel, public officials, and civilians in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras."

Pledging to protect the US and its people from "illicit drugs," the US secretary of state vowed to break "the revenue streams funding the violent and criminal activity of vicious gangs and drug cartels."

"Today's action taken by the State Department further demonstrates the Trump Administration's unwavering commitment to dismantling cartels and gangs and ensuring the safety of the American people," he argued.