| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Italy Downplays Al-Qaeda Christmas Threat |
| 2005-11-07 |
| Rome, 7 Nov. (AKI) - A new message threatening Italy with attacks involving surface-to-air missiles or poisonous substances has appeared on Islamic internet forums linked to the al-Qaeda terror network. The threat is made under the name of Sayf al-Adel, one of al-Qaeda's main leaders, who disappeared after the US invasion of Afghanistan and who, experts believe, is currently in hiding or in prison in Iran. However, Italian interior minister Giuseppe Pisanu played down the threat, saying there was no cause for excessive alarm. Both the title and the content of the message make reference to a news story reported a couple of weeks ago, about rumours that Osama bin Laden had been killed in the earthquake which struck Pakistani Kashmir last month. The title of the message talks of "good news which, God willing, will arrive soon from the land of the Romans". This comes "from your brother Sayf al-Adel to all those who have said that Sheikh Osama bin Laden died in the Pakistan earthquake, was arrested or fell ill," the statement says. The militant then states that "these reports are only the fruit of a media war. Sheikh Osama bin Laden is well and in a safe place, and we will soon see him during the Christmas holidays in the land of the Romans, after the next attack in Europe, which will primarily regard Italy." The message suggests that Italy or another European country is due to be attacked around Christmas and that such an attack will be immediately followed by a message from Osama bin Laden. It has been almost a year since the last audio message attributed to the al-Qaeda leader appeared, and more than a year since he made his last video message. The message on the forum goes on to provide details of what form the attack on Italy might take. In particular it talks of the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigade as the operative cell due to 'take care of' Italy. "You will see the attacks of the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades at the heart of the country," the message continues. "The brothers who are there have assured us that the Brigades have managed to get hold of surface-to-air missiles from Chechnya and these missiles were used last year in the attacks against airports in Great Britain. They have also managed to obtain a quantity of poisonous material to create bombs. God willing, there will be no security in the land of the Romans and the war will be long." No attacks are known to have been successfully carried out on any airport in Britain, but a month ago, US president George W. Bush said in a speech that the US and "several partners" had disrupted a plot to attack London's Heathrow airport, using a commercial airliner hijacked from a country where security levels were not so high which would be flown into an airport terminal. British newspaper The Sunday Times said the British security services had "detailed intelligence" in February 2003 about a two-pronged plan which also involved a "mortar attack" on a departing plane. The latest message on the Internet forum then goes on to announce that there will be "news in the next few days and for this we bless our brothers and our Sheikh Suleyman Abu Ghaith for the new birth." The reference to Abu Gheith, a former al-Qaeda spokesman who also disappeared in 2002 (believed to have been arrested in Iran together with al-Adel and one of bin Laden's sons) may not be a casual one. In congratulating Abu Gheith, possibly over the birth of a new son, the author could be trying prove that he really is Sayf al-Adel. On Monday, the Italian interior minister downplayed the importance of the message, saying it was very short and ungrammatical and "the author could be a Jihadist net surfer who closely follows the European news regarding political violence and draws on it for his message." "Therefore this does not heighten or dampen the terror threat, which continues to cast a shadow over Europe and Italy. For this reason we will continue to keep up our guard." Italy has the fourth largest contingent of troops in Iraq after the US, Britain and South Korea, though in September three hundred of the 3,000 soldiers were withdrawn. Islamic militants have issued several threats against Italy over the past two years. The Italian authorities have stepped up security around the country's main landmarks and in recent months have carried out simulations of terror attacks Milan and Rome. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 Doh! Julius Caesar: "I Trust My Fellow Senators That Turning My Back to Them is Unthinkable" March 14, 44 BC |
| Posted by: The Happy Fliegerabwehrkanonen 2005-11-07 11:11 |
| #1 Italy Downplays Al-Qaeda Christmas Threat Other famous headlines: US Naval Command downplays threat to Pearl Harbor, Dec. 1, 1941 Allies Say Germans Incapable of Offensive Operations on the Western Front; "We'll be home by Christmas" says Gen Eisenhower, Dec. 14, 1944 Gen. Rommel: "Allied Invasion Force Will Land at Calais, Not Normandy Beaches", May 10, 1944 Julius Caesar: "I Trust My Fellow Senators That Turning My Back to Them is Unthinkable" March 14 BC |
| Posted by: The Happy Fliegerabwehrkanonen 2005-11-07 11:10 |