[milkncookies]

'Al-Qaida letter' claims Spain bombings Friday 12 March 2004, 4:27 Makka Time, 1:27 GMT

A letter purporting to come from al-Qaida has claimed responsibility for the grisly train bombings in Madrid, calling them strikes against "crusaders".

A statement on Thursday attributed to al-Qaida and sent to the London-based daily al-Quds al-Arabi claimed responsibility for Thursday's serial bombings in Madrid that left 192 dead and over 1200 wounded.

  The statement also claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on a Masonic lodge in Istanbul two days earlier and said a big attack on the United States was "imminent".

  "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 stages...90% ready and God willing near," it said.

The statement also cautioined Muslims to stay away from "civilian and military institutions of crusader America and its allies."

[freeperfromnj]

Excellent detective work. Thanks!

[appalachian_dweller]

Thanks for the post MnC. That answers a question asked by another poster about when did these terrorist scum indicate that they were 90% ready.

So they were 90% ready on 3/12/04. Guess they're just waiting for the orders to start operations.

[StillProud2BeFree]

Black Death is actually the name of one of the Brigades of martyrs that is affiliated with Al Qaeda.

It may have other meanings as well, but this is one reference that I've been able to confirm in various sources.