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Arabia
Militants Rigged Koran With Explosives
2003-11-12
Muslim militants planning attacks in Saudi Arabia’s holiest city, Mecca, booby-trapped copies of Islam’s holy book, the Koran, to kill and maim pilgrims, a leading Saudi-owned newspaper has reported. The London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat on Wednesday quoted Saudi security sources as saying that this novel weapon was discovered in the arms caches police found after raiding militant hideouts in Mecca and the capital Riyadh in recent weeks. In Mecca, police said they had found tonnes of explosives and rocket propelled grenade launchers, which Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said were to be used to attack pilgrims. In July, police searching militant caches in Mecca found souvenir clocks resembling the Koran that had been booby-trapped.
July? And they didn’t think is was a indication of trouble?
Asharq al-Awsat said the militants had also stuffed explosives into water bottles, which pilgrims normally carry into the shrines, and that they were planning to dress up in wigs and women’s clothes to become less conspicuous in public.
Or maybe they just like to wear womens clothing.
Saudi Arabia has launched a crackdown on suspected al Qaeda militants after triple suicide bombings in Riyadh in May killed 35 people, mostly foreigners. Since then, Asharq al-Awsat said police had found a large number of meat cleavers and swords, which experts said indicated the militants were willing to hack their victims in the same style as Islamist radicals in Algeria.
"Abu, you want the grenade or the AK?"
"Nah, I’m a traditionalist. Hand me the cleaver"

The newspaper said the militants were also well-prepared to carry out assassinations and that they relied on surveillance cameras to avoid being caught.
Posted by:Steve

#8  B-A-R
Have any "moderate" Muslims stepped up to loudly condemn this?
Probably, but probably not as many that think the Jooos or the US is behind it.
Posted by: OminousWhatever   2003-11-12 3:07:50 PM  

#7  "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!"... or exploding Korans, either, I guess.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom   2003-11-12 2:59:26 PM  

#6  Have any "moderate" Muslims stepped up to loudly condemn this?
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2003-11-12 1:26:47 PM  

#5  The two who blew up "Mike's Place" in Tel Aviv got their explosives through using the same tecnique apparently.
Posted by: Barry   2003-11-12 11:48:55 AM  

#4  Are you saying they're dressing up in womens clothing because they're homophobic?
Posted by: Dishman   2003-11-12 10:02:37 AM  

#3  ....they were planning to dress up in wigs and women’s clothes to become less conspicuous in public.

In my travels through Muslim countries I noticed the men like to hold hands with each other and kiss on the cheek. In these same countires the women are oftern covered head-to-toe. Hmmm, now they are wearing women's clothing. Draw your own conclusions.
Posted by: Dragon Fly   2003-11-12 9:03:54 AM  

#2  I think we're going to have to spread around the world just how dangerous it is to pick up a copy of the Koran. You never know when you're going to get an exploding one, after all.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2003-11-12 9:01:05 AM  

#1  Islam: The Religion of Cross-dressing.
Posted by: Charles   2003-11-12 8:48:44 AM  

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