'US to run red with blood'

2004-10-29 08:05

Washington - A shrouded man claiming to be an American member of al-Qaeda promised attacks that will make United States streets "run red with blood" in a video aired on Thursday night by ABC News.

Intelligence officials, however, have not been able to verify the tape's authenticity, and officials do not have information linking the video to a specific threat, said an intelligence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

They also have not been able to positively identify the speaker.

"We remain concerned, however, about al-Qaeda's interest in attacking the homeland," the official said.

Praises 9/11 attacks

In the 75-minute message, the speaker who identifies himself as "Azzam the American" praised the September 11 attacks, called Osama bin Laden and his deputy his leaders, and said a new wave of attacks could come at any moment.

ABC News obtained the video in Pakistan on Friday from a source known to have Taliban and al-Qaeda connections, according to the ABC report.

Since then, the network has been working with intelligence officials to understand the tape's content and origins.

On the tape, the speaker says: "Allah willing, the streets of America will run red with blood, matching drop for drop the blood of America's victims."

The speaker, who wore a headdress that covered his face except for his eyes, claims the United States is his country of origin but does not say specifically where he lives. He speaks both Arabic and English with an international accent that is hard to characterise, the intelligence official said.

The video appears to have been released by al-Qaeda's media organisation, containing a banner attributing the video to the Sahab Production Committee.

"The video content is classic al-Qaeda propaganda, in terms of anti-US ideology and denunciation of the US," the official said.

The official also said the video appears to have been made in the last several months, perhaps as recently as late summer, because of references to the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, and the September 11 commission.

- AP