Posted on 03/11/2004 2:37:48 PM PST by Smogger
A group claiming to be acting in the name of al Qaeda says it was behind today's devastating Madrid train bombings, which killed at least 192 people.
An email to the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper said the Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri was responsible for the worst terrorist attack on a European city since the second world war.
It also warned that a "big attack" on the US was "90% ready".
"The death squad (of the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades) succeeded in penetrating the crusader European depths and striking one of the pillars of the crusader alliance - Spain - with a painful blow," the email said.
"We bring the good news to Muslims of the world that the expected 'Winds of Black Death' strike against America is now in its final stage...90 percent (ready) and God willing near," the letter said.
Bari Atwan, the newspaper's editor, told Sky News he was certain the claim was authentic.
Al-Masri, Osama bin Laden's right-hand man, was killed in the battle of Tora Bora during the war in Afghanistan.
The claim comes after investigators found an Arabic language tape with Koranic versus in a van carrying bomb detonators near Madrid.
The letter and the discovery of the van may throw into doubt the Spanish government's claim that the Basque separatist group Eta - rather than al Qaeda - was behind the multiple bombings, which also injured1,200 people.
"Because of this, I have just given instructions to the security forces not to rule out any line of investigation," Angel Acebes said.
But he stressed Eta was the main suspect.
Ten bombs went off this morning in a devastating wave of attacks on trains passing three different railway stations at the height of the Madrid's rush-hour.
Thousands of Spaniards held a huge silent protest in Bilbao this evening at the heart of Eta country.
The government said the bombs were probably set off by remote control at 4-5 minute intervals starting at 6.30am GMT.
Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar declared three days of mourning and told the nation the attacks were "mass murder".
"We will not back down in the face of terrorist killings," he said. "The perpetrators will be tried and convicted. We are targeting the total, complete and unconditional defeat of terrorism."
"We will succeed in finishing off the terrorist band," he added, employing the term used by the government to refer to Eta, but not naming it.
Mr Aznar vowed to go ahead with a scheduled general election on Sunday, although political parties have suspended campaigning.
US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned the attacks, saying they underlined the need for international co-operation to fight global terror.
A total of 13 bombs were planted around the capital to target morning rush-hour rail commuters.
Three went off at the main Atocha station in central Madrid and four near to the station. Smaller stations were also hit - one bomb at Santa Eugenia and two at Pozo. Three further bombs were destroyed by authorities in controlled explosions.
The Spanish government said the bombs were made of a form of dynamite previously used by Eta.
Earlier, the leader of Eta's banned political wing Batasuna blamed the blasts on "Arab resistance". Arnaldo Otegi said he "refused to believe" Eta was responsible.
The scale of the attack, absence of a phone warning and lack of any claim of responsibility prompted speculation that Islamic terror group al Qaida was responsible.
In an audiotape released in the Arab world in October, a voice purported to be Osama bin Laden threatened nations that are helping the American occupation of Iraq.
"We reserve the right to respond at the appropriate time and place against all the countries participating in this unjust war, particularly Britain, Spain, Australia, Poland, Japan and Italy," the voice said.
Eta's worst previous atrocity killed 21 people in a bomb attack on a Barcelona supermarket in 1987.
I think Lenin said, "the use of terror, is to terrorize." ..it is still the main reason; to root them, (not talk to them, like the liberals want) and kill these people...and severely punish their supporters.
Ya learn something new on FR every day. Thanks. :o)
AQ has constantly warned of attacks ahead of time and many have occured.
They just don't tell us where and how they are going to carry them out.
I can't believe how uneducated and backwards these guys are, everybody knows that the US acted UNILATERALLY.
And just what would that accomplish?
I acknowledge the possibility of an attack and will continue to take reasonable measures, aside from that its business as usual.
WHATEVER the Psychopaths of the 9/11 Suicidal "Muslim Martyrs" may have "Accomplished;"--There Can Be NO FURTHUR "Psychopathic Suicides" by "Suicidal Psychopaths" UNTIL we Manage to Construct an "UnderStanding of the understanding!!
Doc
No need for entry. They're already here!
They had better start thinking about our counterstrike options, and whether or not they will worship a glowing crater, instead of a black moon-god rock.
Here are some of your warnings and claims.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3275853.stm
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/08/11/alqaeda.blast/index.html
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8588875%255E1702,00.html
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/11/11/saudi031111
http://www.guardian.co.uk/september11/story/0,11209,685127,00.html
This one sums it all up nicely. http://cshink.com/al_zawahri_statements.htm These are just some, there are many more as well.
In my own opinion, the main reason that they are telegraphing this attack in the manner they are is because they simply want every one to know it was them. The media has been doing a good job down playing these threats since they started, no need to start a panic now, is there? Keep shopping, nothing to see here move along, take the train, use the plane...
Al Queda has also already apologized to the world for what they are about to "unleash". They also indicate that want their claims met immediately after the next "big" attack.
It's all out there if you choose to find it and pay attention. But now, back to All Kobe, all the time
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