Islamists claiming links to al Qaeda have issued another threat against European countries for supporting the policies of U.S. President George W. Bush. "We will not hesitate to shed blood in all parts of Europe, in Rome and other places, as long as countries move in the orbit of the pinnacle of unbelief, America," the statement by the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades said on Friday.
| The Euros can't help themselves, they're in our orbit, and gravity is a harsh mistress. |
"From here from Italy, from Britain, from Bulgaria and all European countries we call on all our units to prepare themselves to enter the battle," said the message, posted on an Internet website and dated July 30. "You will not enjoy security while you remain in the shadow of the despicable Bush," it added.
| Alas, these jokers have yet to know the shadow that a JDAM casts. |
The message made reference to a three-month truce issued to European states by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. That truce, which ended on July 15, gave countries three months to pull troops out of Afghanistan, Iraq and other Muslim states or face attacks like the Madrid train bombings in March. The authenticity of the statement could not be immediately verified. The message said other statements had been falsely attributed to the Abu Hafs al-Masri group in the past two days. A statement signed in the name of the same group appeared on Islamist websites on Wednesday, but its content was similar. It warned of a "bloody war" in Europe after the expiry of bin Laden's truce. Previous claims of responsibility by the group for attacks in Turkey and Iraq have been greeted with scepticism. U.S. officials have said its links with al Qaeda are unclear. |