Al-Qaeda threatens 'bloodshed'
2004-07-30 22:44
Dubai - A statement claiming to speak for al-Qaeda vowed on Friday that the terror network would "shed blood all over Europe" following the expiry of a conditional truce offer by its chief Osama bin Laden.
"We will not hesitate to shed blood all over Europe, in Rome and elsewhere, so long as the countries we target revolve in America's orbit," said the statement signed by "Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades - al-Qaeda".
Its authenticity could not be confirmed.
"From here, from Italy, Britain, Bulgaria and all European countries, we call on our units to mobilise and brace for a battle of a different kind. Get ready to spill blood. Let it be a bloody, endless war," the statement said.
The statement, purportedly issued from Europe, denied that the group had posted another statement on the same website on Thursday.
'Will strike with an iron fist'
That statement had singled out Italy as it threatened Europe with a "bloody war"; following the expiry of a July 15 deadline set by bin Laden for European states to pull troops out of Muslim countries.
"We did not post a statement on any website and we did not issue any threat over the past two days," it said.
"You will not know security in your countries so long as you remain in the shadow of the despicable Bush administration.
"We will strike with an iron fist wherever possible, at the right place and time," Friday's warning said.
An audiotape statement issued on April 15 by bin Laden gave European governments three months to withdraw their troops from Muslim states.
The ultimatum was later authenticated by the US Central Intelligence Agency.
Several European leaders dismissed bin Laden's purported offer at the time, scoffing at the idea of negotiating with the terror chief.
Killed in US invasion
The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades have 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.
On July 16, the group carrying his name had threatened Italy with a bloodbath on the scale of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States if Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi remained in power.