[yukong]

Could very well be. I was really leaning toward that yesterday. but if there are demands for money, well, that throws a kink in my reasoning. AQ I would think, would not make a demand for money. They would have that. Unless, our governments shut down of their financial accounts and the disruption of their financing has got them to resorting to ransom demands for an infusion of case. Seems unlikely, but the thing that has come to me in this, is that you cannot rule anything out. Nothing. Everything is on the table.

[Wordsmith]

Don't think a money request rules out AQ. Someone on these threads a couple of weeks ago pointed out that the jihadist pattern of being tight with money (ie...trying to get the truck rental deposit back after the first WTC bombing) might have contributed to the choice of method here. One rifle, one bullet per shooting, because they are working with very limited financial resources and have been cut off from access to more.

[twntaipan]

As others on this thread (or the other one running with info about today's shooting) said, ransom is in keeping with various Muslim terrorist groups--could be this is a "minor league" AQ club and in need of outside funding.

[aristeides]

Demand for money, if it's true, could be misdirection, like the tarot card.