A Saudi dissident exiled in London has warned Italy that it will be the next to be hit after London. "Italy should be very careful, al-Qaeda will strike it soon. Following its strategy, that is the most logical thing it will do," Saad al-Faqih, a surgeon the US believes has helped finance al-Qaeda, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. | So the Sooodi surgeon threatens to create bomb victims, whilst the Joooo surgeon works to save their lives ... |
Al-Faqih, a medical doctor who has lived in the British capital for many years, vehemently denies any links with Osama bin Laden's group and his supporters claim he is simply an advocate for peaceful reform in the Saudi kingdom. However, the US has indicated him as a suspected associate of al-Qaeda and has frozen the funds of his group, the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA). He describes himself as "only an observer", even though he is said to have crossed paths with Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, fighting the Soviets there, alongside the Mujahadeen.
He says he is so sure that Italy will be attacked "from observing al-Qaeda's behaviour and from a knowledge of the Koran. The London bombs are a message to the United Kingdom and the whole of Europe. Osama was explicit immediately after the Madrid attacks. He offered the Old Continent [Europe] a unilateral truce which was completely ignored. Now he has turned to other means of convincing them. Italy should brace itself." Al-Faqih also highlights a saying of the Prophet Muhammad as proof that Italy will be hit, saying, "Osama remembers the words of the Prophet: "You [Muslims] will make a truce with the Romans and will fight a common enemy." There are other versions of the same 'hadis' [a saying of the Prophet]: "You will force the Romans to a truce...". This is exactly what Bin Laden wants: to force Italy to abandon the alliance with America."