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.
Very good points.
I was thinking that...and, if the situation were reversed, I'd be heading out.
Yes, but anybody can write an email. If the Spanish decide it was al-Qaida, or if the US does, then I'll be convinced. Maybe it was a joint ETA/al-Qaida operation with ETA supplying the explosives, and al-Qaida controlling the other details.
This is coming? This has aready arrived in the form of the charge that the Iraq expedition has caused a great increase in terrorism. Iraq has becom a locus of terrorism, true enough, and why not? Better there than on our streets.
It may not have the practice in the past. However, it could be the result of others joining forces. The fact that there was a warning, does not exclude them. Spain apparently thinks that also.
Arabs talk only when they lack the ability or will to act.
I don't have a crystal ball but thanks to those who are in authority who have ignored our immigration laws, one day soon we may feel the tramatic effects of their failures. I can imagine a whole sale reprisal happening to middle eastern peoples/Muslims living in America if we are attacked in the manner being proclaimed?
Bush didn't send enough Cops.
I don't think those characters are in the know any longer. Instead we need to ramp up strategic strikes in ANY country that we have knowledge of terrorists whereabouts.
Not surprising because it is a bacterial, not a viral infection and treated with antibiotics.
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