Al-Qaeda threatens Italy
2004-08-01 17:46
Dubai - A statement in the name of an al-Qaeda group has threatened to attack Italians everywhere unless Rome pulls its troops out of Iraq within 15 days, a pan-Arab newspaper said on Sunday.
"We give (Italian Prime Minister Silvio) Berlusconi 15 days to pull out of Iraq. After that, we cannot be blamed for the shedding of the blood of any Italian anywhere, anytime, and we will trigger an earthquake in your country," said a "message to the Italian government" signed by "Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades - al-Qaeda organisation".
The statement, dated on Saturday, was sent to the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi and made available to AFP ahead of publication on Monday.
Its authenticity could not be independently confirmed.
The group recalled having given Italy a "last warning" to withdraw from Iraq, where Rome has been a staunch supporter of the US-led invasion.
On July 16, the group threatened Italy with a bloodbath on the scale of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US if Berlusconi remained in power.
The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades claimed responsibility for the March 11 train bombings in Madrid, which killed 191 people, as well as for November 2003 bombings in Istanbul that killed 25 people.
Abu Hafs al-Masri headed Al-Qaeda military operations until he was killed in the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.