Islamic Group That Claimed Madrid Bombing Names...Next Targets

AP ^ | 03/18/04 | Nadia Abou El-Magd

[Kieri]

Report: Islamic Group That Claimed Madrid Bombings Names Western Countries That Could Be Next Targets

By Nadia Abou El-Magd Associated Press Writer Published: Mar 18, 2004

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - The Islamic militant group that claimed responsibility for last week's Madrid train bombings has warned that its next targets could be the United States, Japan, Italy, Britain or Australia, an Arabic newspaper reported Thursday. The London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi said on its Web site that it had received a statement from "The Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri (al-Qaida)" in which the group reiterated its responsibility for the March 11 attacks that killed more than 200 people and wounded more than 1,600.

"Our brigades are getting ready now for the coming strike," said the statement dated March 15. "Whose turn will it be next? Is it Japan, America, Italy, Britain, Saudi Arabia or Australia?"

The United States believes the Abu Hafs group lacks credibility and has only tenuous ties to al-Qaida. In the past, the group has claimed responsibility for events to which they were not connected - such as last summer's blackouts in North America and Britain.

The editor of Al-Quds al-Arabi, Abdel Bari Atwan, told The Associated Press the paper received the statement via e-mail Wednesday night. The paper has received other e-mails from this group. On the evening of the Madrid bombings, the paper released an e-mail from Abu Hafs al-Masri in which they made the first claim of responsibility.

"This statement is authentic," Atwan said, adding the group had previously claimed responsibility for last year's suicide attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, and on the U.N. headquarters in Iraq.

The same statement appeared on an Islamic Web site that has posted purported al-Qaida declarations in the past. The site carries a note disclaiming responsibility for the contents of statements.

Spanish authorities suspect an al-Qaida-linked cell carried out the bombings. Moroccan authorities have said the emerging evidence in the Madrid attacks points toward Ansar al-Islam, a guerrilla group blamed for terrorist strikes in Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Morocco. Other groups believed to be involved in the bombings are Salafia Jihadia and Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group.

In its statement, Abu Hafs al-Masri said it was calling a truce in Spain to give the socialist government that was elected Sunday, three days after the train attacks, time to carry out its pledge to withdraw troops from Iraq.

The group appeared to boast it had the power to change governments.

"We change and destroy countries," the statement said. "We even influence the international economy, and this is God's blessing to us."

The statement tells American voters that Abu Hafs al-Masri supports the re-election campaign of President Bush: "We are very keen that Bush does not lose the upcoming elections."

The statement said Abu Hafs al-Masri needs what it called Bush's "idiocy and religious fanaticism" because they would "wake up" the Islamic world.

Parts of the statement were released Wednesday night by the editor of another London-based Arabic newspaper, Al Hayat. The editor read parts of the statement to The Associated Press in Cairo.

[Kieri]

Hopefully there's no numerical connection between 11/1 and 9/11...on second thought...

[Loyal Buckeye]

Nothing new here.

They made a major mistake attacking the U.S. in the first place. Will they duplicate it?

[sarasota]

Uh, we know we're "next". We also know that every country is next. Tell us something we don't know and do it on dated video. They "support the re-election of Pres. Bush"? Ok, whatever. And what makes them think we care who they want to win the election. Just wish they could see how little we care about their opinions.

[Izzy Dunne]

there's no numerical connection between 11/1 and 9/11...on second thought...

I didn't check it, but someone claimed that there were 911 days between 9/11/2001 and 3/11/2004.
That's at least approximately right..

[boxerblues]

received the statement via e-mail
That should be easy enough to track down.

[Izzy Dunne]

We are very keen that Bush does not lose the upcoming elections.

So is GW going to come out with an ad that says that "foreign leaders" want him to be President?

I'll bet "no".

[wayoverontheright]

They made a major mistake attacking the U.S. in the first place. Will they duplicate it?

Major mistake is correct. Note that they like "soft targets" and I don't think they consider the US soft anymore.

[steplock]

Bring 'em on! I have my shotgun!

They are too cowardly to make another overt move - the true American citizens (what few that are left) will destroy them thanks to the Second Amendment.

[steplock]

"911 days between 9/11/2001 and 3/11/2004"

It was close enough --- taking into consideration time zones, international date line, etc etc....

The "quibblers" in the ignorant media simply do not know about time zones.

[elfman2]

""Our brigades are getting ready now for the coming strike," "

[Snicker…] Their “brigades”?

Their brigades probably encompass a couple of dozen real terrorist supported by few hundred counter culture sympathizers that would be spotted in a heartbeat if they left Spain.

This threat is good news. It means they don’t have sh~t here, can’t hit us, and this is the best they can do -threaten us with imaginary "brigades”!

[forrestroche]

Al Qaeda will be back, no doubt about it. But as you say, they like soft targets and probably would like to reserve something spectacular for the United States. Al Qaeda is not anything if not patient. And shrewd. They see the long term picture. They waited eight years to try a second attack on the Trade Center and I would expect that in 2009 we will be good and relaxed again (at least on the domestic front). A LOT of things could happen of course, but I would expect another large attack but not for a while.

The scariest scenario for me is the nuclear one. Nothing, not biological, chemcial, "dirty bomb" would have anything like the psychological impact of the sudden disappearance of a major U.S. city under a nuclear strike. And nothing would do a better job of provoking what I believe is their ultimate aim: A global conflagration of biblical proportions along religious lines.

forrest

[magnumsgirl]

Until they can find a way to strap a nuke onto the back of a 10 year old, don't be overly concerned.

[RandallFlagg]

Am I the only one thinking that if they hit Japan, they'll have really skrooed the pooch?

That culture might just re-invent the Samurai Warrior into something that the terrorist's worst nightmares couldn't come up with.

[dmz]

Your comment has struck me as (inappropriately) funny.

Your shotgun vs their car bombs/mortar attacks.

Not looking good for the home team (although I'm rooting big time for you).

[is_is]

When one of these "groups" claims responsibility an hour before the event.....then i will believe them....

[Ashamed Canadian]

It's a religion of peace you know.

[Ben Hecks]

I think the Philippines might be on the taget list next for these reasons:
1. The Philippines have an election coming up on May 10
2. They support the coalition with troops in Iraq
3. They have accepted military aid from the U.S. to fight terrorism at home

Incidentally, the Philippine police just seized 900 pounds of ingredients that could be used for a bomb.

[steplock]

My shotgun ... and then add the hundreds of thousands more guns aimed at them by patriotic Americans defending the country ...

Besides, you would be very surprised what a .410 shotgun slug can do to an automobile - and the occupants for that matter!

I would prefer my old M-14 though!

[KingofQue]

I agree. If they want it we should give it to them. Completely destroy all Islamic countries and round up Muslims here and deport them to Islamic countries right before we vaporize them.

[Rebelbase]

"That should be easy enough to track down."

Done properly its impossible to track to a source.