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| Arabia |
| Saudi al-Qaida cell promises Dire Revenge™ |
| 2004-03-18 |
| A group believed to be linked to al-Qaida has vowed to avenge the killing of its Saudi Arabian leader, Khalid Ali Hajj. The al-Qaida organisation in the Arab Peninsula said it would start targeting Saudi forces if they continued to hunt down Islamist members. "Quit shooting at us, just who do you think runs this country anyway?" Published on an Islamist website on Wednesday, the statement said Hajj was on an undisclosed mission when he was ambushed and killed by security forces in the Saudi capital Riyadh. A Yemeni national, Hajj is believed to have once acted as a bodyguard of al-Qaida leader Usama bin Ladin. The statement said he had been on "missions" in Afghanistan, Europe and south-east Asia. Racking up those frequent jihadi miles. But he was killed along with suspected Islamist fighter Ibrahim al-Muzaini when security forces opened fire on their vehicle. Newspaper pictures showed their bodies still slumped in the front seats. Nice picture of them at the link, warms my heart. "Their murder will only fuel our determination and enthusiasm to avenge them," the statement said. "We warn members of the security, emergency and intelligence forces not to confront the mujahidin because it will be very easy to attack you in your homes or workplace, but this is not part of the mujahidin’s policy now." "Don’t make us come in there!" Attacks in Saudi Arabia have so far focused on foreign targets, particularly expatriate residential compounds. Last year more than 50 people were killed in bombings of compounds in May and November. Can’t have any of those infidels polluting the holy air. In December fighters tried at least twice to assassinate senior Interior Ministry officials in the first sign they might change tactics. Shows that Saudi tactics, bad as they are, are having some effect. Hajj had been wanted by Saudi authorities since May for that month’s triple bombing - blamed on al-Qaida - which killed at least 35 people in Riyadh, including nine Americans. Saudi-owned al-Sharq al-Awsat daily reported on Wednesday that Abd al-Aziz al-Muqrin has taken Hajj’s place as leader of al-Qaida cells in Saudi Arabia. Muqrin is the suspected mastermind of the November attack and one of the kingdom’s most wanted fugitives. His mother will be so proud. |
| Posted by:Steve |