French rail bomb group issues new threat

TimesofINDIA ^ | 03/14/04 | TimesofINDIA

[Pikamax]

French rail bomb group issues new threat

AFP[ SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2004 06:40:54 AM ]

PARIS: The mysterious group that calls itself AZF has issued a new threat to the French government, saying it will bomb the country's rail network unless it receives millions in ransom money, sources close to the investigation said on Saturday.

AZF last week made the latest threat in its two-month campaign, saying it would strike targets along France's extensive railways, as well as at "three symbolic sites outside the railways", if it was not paid, the sources said.

AZF has "increased its ransom amount" in its new demands, the sources said, declining to give a figure.

The earlier demand -- $4 million and one million euros -- was relatively small, drawing suspicion that AZF comprised only a few members.

The blackmail has both fascinated and terrified France, after media revealed in early March that the government had been communicating with AZF through letters and personal advertisements posted in national newspapers.

Experts and police have combed through letters written by AZF to try to uncover who was behind the group -- former soldiers, a religious sect, a terrorist organization or, the least likely option, crafty amateurs involved in an elaborate hoax.

In their letters, the group warned it had planted 10 bombs along the railway network and, to show the seriousness of their claims, tipped police off late last month to the location one of its bombs.

[zarf]

Ransom? Finally, some rational lunatics.

[thoughtomator]

Barbary Pirates...

[Crazieman]

Newsflash, France capitulates, pays ransom money, and buys millions in white flags.

[cripplecreek]

At this point it seems a little suspect that this AZF group would make threats. It seems a little too convinient to me. Theres no real reason to believe that islamic terrorists wouldnt attack france and make a claim in the name of AZF.

[Ichneumon]

The earlier demand -- $4 million and one million euros -- was relatively small, drawing suspicion that AZF comprised only a few members.

Or maybe this is their ringleader:

"I demand the sum... OF 1 MILLION DOLLARS."

[Cindy]

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "PARIS: The mysterious group that calls itself AZF has issued a new threat to the French government, saying it will bomb the country's rail network unless it receives millions in ransom money, sources close to the investigation said on Saturday."

GOOGLE Search Term: "AZF"
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22AZF%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=0

[Texasforever]

French military goes to Defcon white flag.

[sc2_ct]

While I am vehemently opposed to terrorism in all forms, I have to say that it would seem awfully suitable in a demented sort of way if the Eiffle Tower were to be blown up by terrorists.

[JerseyHighlander]

Sounds like the European terrorist/mafia underworld had some knowledge of the Madrid attack beforehand, and these AZF guys definitely did, and are piggybacking the ideologically motivated Madrid terrorists, with their financially motivated crescendo (it's all theater) building towards the ransom demand.

[festus]

If I was gonna terrorize the french I'd ask for ransom or else I'd spray Right Guard all over the country.......

[jocko12]

Those are mean little high school grils in france.

[Cindy]

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://nice.indymedia.org/article.php3%3Fid_article%3D5433&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522AZF%2522%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN

http://hiv.cjb.net

[japaneseghost]

Yep, this has been all over FR - this new terrorist group might very well be responsible for the bombings in Madrid - and do we care? We don't care that ETA and Al-Quaida have a working relationship (remember a couple of Zawahiri tapes ago, when he said not to participate yet in the white supremacy USA terror groups, as if to hint to particiapte in Euro groups?)

They know the USA is too dumb too link these things together.

Of course, that's why there's FR.

[JasonC]

They tried, before the WTC

And three hostages died, before commandos stormed the plane they intended to crash into it, while the plane was refueling on the ground in Marseilles. That was in 1994.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I wonder how many millions the french paid these guys to stop;
http://www.cnn.com/2000/STYLE/arts/04/12/france.gnomes.reut/