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Bombers planned 'burning cross'
13/07/2005 20:11 - (SA)
London - The four suspected London bombers wanted to scar the city with a "burning cross", setting off explosions in its north, south, east and west, in the hope of being revered as martyrs by fellow extremists, a British newspaper reported on Wednesday.
The four suspects were caught on security cameras at London's King's Cross, heading off in different directions shortly before the three bombs went off near Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square underground stations early on Thursday. A fourth bomb exploded on a bus nearly an hour later.
Police suspect that three of the young men carried bombs east, west and south, while a fourth had planned to take the north-bound Northern Line, but as this was disrupted at the time he changed plans and boarded a bus, London's Evening Standard said.
Investigators have developed the "burning cross" theory based on an internet statement by a shadowy group calling itself the Organisation of al-Qaeda Jihad in Europe, which claimed responsibility for the blasts, the paper said.
"Heroic mujahedeens carried out a sacred attack in London, and here is Britain burning in fear, terror and fright in the north, south, east and west", said the statement, whose authenticity has not been confirmed.
According to a security source close to the investigation, quoted by the Evening Standard, the bombers carried personal documents to the scene of the blasts in the hope they would be identified and honoured for their part in the carnage.
"They wanted people to know who they were. They wanted to be martyrs," the source said.
- AFP
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