Terror Group Threatens French Railways

AP ^ | 3/03/04

[kattracks]

PARIS - A previously unknown terror group is threatening to blow up French railway tracks unless it is paid millions of dollars, authorities said Wednesday.

Information from the group led to the recovery on Feb. 21 of an explosive device buried in the bed of a railway line near Limoges in central France, the government said. The bomb would have been powerful enough to break a track, it said.

The government had earlier urged French and international media not to report the blackmail effort to protect efforts to establish contacts with the group. But the Interior Ministry released details about the threats in a statement Wednesday after the story leaked.

The group "has sent several letters demanding an important sum of money in exchange for neutralizing several bombs it says it has laid, notably under rail lines," the ministry's statement said.

Police said the group threatened attacks unless it receives $4 million and euro1 million — worth $1.2 million — within days. Police do not believe the group has any connection to Islamic terror networks.

Anti-terror magistrates are investigating.

The Interior Ministry said the group identifies itself as AZF — the same initials as a chemical factory that exploded, killing 30 people, in southwestern France in 2001. Investigators believe that explosion was accidental.

AZF "presents itself as a 'pressure group with terrorist characteristics,'" the ministry's statement said.

Police are working the case, but "hope to do it with discretion to give themselves the maximum of chances" for success, the ministry said, without elaborating on the investigation.

[San Jacinto]

Better pay up, Frenchies. Kerry would, you know.

[prion]

Terror group? Says who? Sounds to me like some guy with access to explosives.

[sgtbono2002]

After making contact with the group the French were heard to say, " who do we make the check out to".

[Fenris6]

Well, I hope they don't do anything without UN approval... and after a 6 month discussion of "root causes"... this is what comes from their unilateral approach in the world community... it was a plot hatched up by Chirac and his rich friends in Paris... Do they have "proof' of the existance of a bomb or are they sexing up the Intel.. blah blah blah. LOL.

[jocko12]

LOOKS LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL GRILS AS GOT THE GOVERMENT ON THE RUN.

[Piquaboy]

Have they run up the white flag yet?

[thoughtomator]

Probably one of the unions.

[ET(end tyranny)]

I'm kind of surprised these threads aren't getting more activity.

[thoughtomator]

It's mostly because no one here really cares about the French. After the way they have behaved in the wake of 9/11, who can have sympathy now that their policies have borne the predictable fruit?

[SunkenCiv]

What an eiffel dilemma! [rimshot!]

[ET(end tyranny)]

I understand the lack of concern for the French. However, I would think people would follow the story if for no other reason than to see how it plays out.

If the terrorists are sucessful with this gambit, which county will be held to the fire next?

Oh, now they said it could be a semi-hoax. hmmm a half hoax, or is a truck involved!?

[thoughtomator]

I think it's a new union negotiating tactic.

[Iberian]

The terrorists are taking advantage while all their 50 troops are in Haiti.