Al Qaeda-Linked Cell Vows to Hit Italy
Aug. 7, 2004 — DUBAI (Reuters) - A militant group claiming links to al Qaeda said in a statement Saturday its cells in Italy were ready to strike if the country did not withdraw troops from Iraq before a 15-day deadline given by the group expired this month.
"The truce we had offered you...to withdraw your troops has almost ended. Our cells in Rome and in all other Italian cities are prepared and ready to carry out their mission after the end of the truce on the 15th of this month," said the statement signed by Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades -- al Qaeda Organization.
"You won't feel safe in your homes. Each place will be a target after the end of the truce and the targets have been defined," the statement said.
The group sent a statement last weekend to the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper giving Italy a 15-day deadline to withdraw its forces from Iraq or face attacks.
"The Brigades' words will ring deep inside Italy and will be heard by the rest of Europe. Anyone who has violated Muslims in Iraq and in every other Muslim country will feel the bitterness of suffering Muslim people," the new statement said.
The group urged its "cells in Italy" to attack any target once the deadline ended.
"To our cells in Italian cities in Rome and everywhere in Italy, war is approaching...get ready to strike any target in front of you after the end of the truce," it said.
Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades had previously issued threats against European countries, saying it would start with Italy, for not responding to a "truce" issued to European states by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden which expired in July.
The truce gave countries three months to pull troops out of Afghanistan, Iraq and other Muslim states or face attacks like the Madrid train bombings in March that killed 191 people.
U.S. officials have said Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades' links with al Qaeda are unclear.
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20040807_6.html
FLAG TORCHED AT MARINE'S HOME
By David Epstein and Leo Standora
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Tom Cespuglio, 47, and his son Joe, 27, holding their vandalized flag. A new flag is in the background.
The parents of a young Marine serving in Iraq were horrified when the American flag they flew to honor their daughter was set ablaze this week outside their Brooklyn home.
Cops were hunting yesterday for the mystery woman whose image was captured on surveillance tape as she torched Old Glory and threw it on a garbage can, a police source said......
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/219867p-188932c.html
Italy 'vigilant' on terror threats
08/07/04 10:35 AM, EDT
An Italian official has reiterated his government's vigilance over threats by terror groups angry at Italy's troop presence in Iraq.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/08/07/italy.terror/index.html