An extremist Algerian terror formation, the al-Qaeda aligned Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) on Tuesday issued a call to arms to French Muslims. "Muslim brothers, remember, we need your help," read a message posted by the GSPC to several Islamist websites. French Muslims are urged to carry out terrorist acts against Algerian business leaders, economists and diplomatic figures.
"We are calling on devout Muslims in France - and elsewhere - because we want to punish the criminals who have tortured Muslims in Africa," the GSPC message read. "We especially ask Muslims in France to launch terror attacks against those accused of acts against mujahadeen, because these people believe they are safe in France," it added.
The message is also intended to remind people that the group is still active. Although militant attacks have decreased in Algeria in recent years, and have been sporadic over the past twelve months, they have never entirely ceased and GSPC incursions have increased recently, especially in provinces to the east of the capital, Algiers.
Last week, Algerian media reported the police to be on high alert over the threat of an imminent attack by the GSPC - possibly on Algiers itself. New military units have been deployed to the area around Boumerdes, 45 kilometres east of Algiers, believed to be the militants' stronghold, where the Algerian army has suffered its worst losses. |