AL QAEDA CLAIMS BOMBINGS (Warns "big attack" on US 90% ready)

Sky News ^ | 22:16 UK, Thursday March 11, 2004 | Sky News

[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.

[jwalburg]

Terrorist groups do work with each other, and with drug traffickers, too. It could be both. Wasn't there something not long ago about Al Qaeda and Columbian leftists helping each other?

[kcvl]

"Voice of Jihad" calls upon Islamic fundamentalists in each of the region's countries to prepare of such a contingency by preparing to rule through Islamic law, as each regime collapses.

"Anyone interested in correcting the situation of the (Muslim) nation must be prepared for this situation by establishing a council of clerics and preachers that will deal with the anticipated total collapse," he adds.


"America will take a mighty blow, will go berserk, and will decide to punish the extremists deep in the Arabian Peninsula, by means of direct occupation," the editorial says. "This is like the Zionists, who were not satisfied with all the treacherous deeds of the Palestinian Authority and with the repression of the Palestinian Mujahideen by Yasser Arafat and his authority in the days of the implementation of the Oslo accords."

The attack on America predicted by "Voice of Jihad" in the near future is described as one as devastating or more so than the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks led by al-Qaida.

"It will be a surprising blow, that is one that is completely unexpected," it continues. "They cannot conceive or imagine the way in which it will be carried out. It is a great blow. That is, the losses that will be caused to America and the Western world in its wake will be very great ... the blow will change the international balances of power."

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040128-031623-3651r.htm

[Shermy]

A Sign of the Reappearance (al-qa'im) of the (Imam)

"...A Prophecy in ancient Islamic tradition (usul) indicates a black wind (huayra yana) will rise up at the beginning of "The Day" [of judgment] and then a great earthquake will shake the land so much that it will almost be swallowed up; "before the one who will arise (al-qa'im), there will be red death and white death; there will be locusts at their usual time and at their unusual time like the colours of blood. As for red death that is (from) the sword, while white death is (from) plague." (1)...

9/11 was the red death, anthrax attacks the white death.

Just a guess...

[znix]

My guess is its a joint ETA-Islamic group attack.

I'm not prepared to go that far, but according to Jane's World Insurgency and Terrrorism, ETA has had contacts with Lebanonese and Iranian terrorists groups in the past. Mostly concerning ETA operatives being trained by these groups in the middle east.

[Conservateacher]

"See we should have left the terrorists alone and they would have lived and let us live peaceful lives."

Has anyone heard this yet? If not it's coming.

[kcvl]

Bin Laden 'spoke of big attack on US'

Osama bin Laden vowed just three weeks ago to unleash an unprecedented attack against the US.

An Arab journalist with access to the terror chief says bin Laden warned of a "very big one" being planned by Islamic fundamentalists he leads.

Story filed: 17:51 Tuesday 11th September 2001

[OneTimeLurker]

Isn't "Black Death" the bubonic plague? Get's the name because a person's tongue turns black when they get it.

[kcvl]

The Black Death: Bubonic Plague

In the early 1330s an outbreak of deadly bubonic plague occurred in China. Plague mainly affects rodents, but fleas can transmit the disease to people. Once people are infected, they infect others very rapidly. Plague causes fever and a painful swelling of the lymph glands called buboes, which is how it gets its name. The disease also causes spots on the skin that are red at first and then turn black.

[znix]

Keep in mind "Black Death" is being translated from Arabic. Black Death could mean a lot of different things in a lot of different cultures.

[Dead Dog]

One guess is that they need to regain credibility, calling their shots is a sure way of doing such..it also suggests a high degree of confidence, stupidity, desperation, or all of the above.

BTW, the CDC web site states there is no Plague (Black Death) vaccine available for use in the US (page last updated in '01). Untreated the death rate is 40-60% for bubonic, and 100% for pneumatic of septic(?).

[In_25_words_or_less]

It also warned that a "big attack" on the US was "90% ready".

They really don't have the hang of that surprise attack business, do they.

[The Brush]

I don't think they understand how the "religion of peace" could become a target. There's only so much tolerance in this country. If they were to pull off something big, it could backfire in ways they can't imagine.
Our citizens are armed, if it looks as though we are being attacked from within by members of a religious group, Americans may choose to defend themselves by destryoing the enemies that live among us.

[Shermy]

I'm not prepared to go that far, but according to Jane's World Insurgency and Terrrorism, ETA has had contacts with Lebanonese and Iranian terrorists groups in the past. Mostly concerning ETA operatives being trained by these groups in the middle east.

Could be a partial Iranian operation. Zawahiri etc. are in Iran, and the letter sounds like Zawahiri.

[kcvl]

The Black Death - (photos)

The Black Death came in three forms, the bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. Each different form of plague killed people in a vicious way. All forms were caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis.

[Mike Darancette]

No sir, The threat of terrorism is overblown.
- J. F'n K.

[rageaholic]

eh, sounds like some crap written by a pimply faced teenager in a heavy-metal phase. Not gonna worry about it.

[luvbach1]

True, were not given warning before; but now, post 9/11, when the terrorists can safely assume we expect an attack at some point, why not tell us it's coming? It's not as if we can significantly beef up security in response. One must assume the terrorists already have come up with an avenue of entry, if such is required for the impending attack.

[luvbach1]

Have they telegraphed the nature of a threatened attack?

[luvbach1]

Hmmm. Forgot the black death ref. Bubonic plague for the summer? Isn't that special?

[MegaSilver]

True, were not given warning before; but now, post 9/11, when the terrorists can safely assume we expect an attack at some point, why not tell us it's coming? It's not as if we can significantly beef up security in response.

Not that it would do any good if we did.

My friend was practically x-rayed for having metal on her shoes. When she got on the plane, she discovered that she'd forgotten to leave her pocket knife at home.