Jeremy Bradshaw
Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Story Continues Below

  The first claim comes from the previously unknown group calling itself "The Secret Cell of al-Qaida of Jihad in Europe" (Jamaat al-Tanzim al-Sirri, Tanzim Qaaidat al-Jihad fi Urupa). This sect posted its claim on a website last Thursday, the day of the bombings, called The Fortress, (or the "al-Qala" in Arabic). This surprised counter-terrorist experts in London as the site has only been previously served as a conduit for legitimate al-Qaida communications.

In their letter, the group claimed the attack was executed in revenge for "the British Zionist Crusader government ... [and] the massacres Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan." It alleged that the act of terror had been planned well in advance and that the British government had been repeatedly forewarned (a claim fervently denied by British prime minister Tony Blair). The letter warned that Italy and Denmark are also potential targets if they do not remove their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sources have told NewsMax that intelligence officers doubt the veracity of this group's claim. They question the extent to which this Website is actually regularly used by insurgent and terrorist groups - despite press claims to this effect. Our investigations show that the website has hosted a number of claims in the past relating to terrorists acts - and all have subsequently proven to be false.

In a letter dated June 20 from Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader said that London bombings were part of a wider al-Qaida summer offensive as al-Qaida is preparing for its next round of jihad or holy war following its successful reorganization and training of new recruits who are now armed with weapons of the enemy.

The letter contained a warning to the rulers of Muslim states who are not in full accord with al-Qaida ideology.

"The bombings are unusual for al-Qaida. First, because of the relatively low number of causalities and, second, because of the timing - the UK had just announced a planned troop draw-down in Iraq" says Rory Malone, a security expert. However, he points out that the attacks could also be related to the trial in London of the radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri.

Investigators are trying to assess whether the perpetrators were British-based terrorists that were home grown within the UK and inspired by al-Qaida, a single al-Qaida operative trained the attackers, or a foreign-based cell moved into London to carry out the attacks.

The Times of London today claims that "a lone bomb-maker using high-grade military explosives is believed to be responsible for building the for devices."

The paper reports that similar components from the explosive devices have been found at all four murder sites, leading detectives to believe that each of the 10lb rucksack bombs was the work of one man using materials that "were not home made but sophisticated military explosives, possibly smuggled into Britain from the Balkans." The paper quotes Superintendent Christophe Chaboud, the chief of the French anti-terrorist police, who is in London to help Scotland Yard as saying "The nature of the explosives appears to be military, which is very worrying."

The second claim is by an al-Qaida-linked group called Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades. The name invokes the alias of Mohammed Atef, a top deputy of Osama bin Laden who was killed by U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan in November 2001. However, terrorism specialists say this group has no proven record of attacks and have claimed responsibility for events in which they are unlikely to have had a role, such as the 2003 blackout of the eastern U.S.

Due to the similarities with the 3/11 Madrid train bombings, Spanish authorities investigating the bombings are collaborating with their British counterparts to investigate suspects linked to the 3/11 bombings that may have inspired the London bombings.

One key suspect is Mustafa Setmarian Nasar, a 47-year-old Syrian with dual Spanish nationality who is accused of orchestrating 3/11. The other is Mohamed Guerbouzi, a 44-year-old militant Islamic ideologue and leader of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group. He has lived in the UK since 1974 and holds a British passport.

French and German officials have connected him to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and assert he is an associate of Abu Qatada. He is also a member of the Supporter of Sharia, the Finsbury park group.

Investigators contend that he has met with Abu Dahda, a Syrian-born cleric arrested after 3/11 and currently on trial on terrorism related charges. Guerbouzi was sentenced by Morocco in absentia to 20 years in prison for his role in the Casablanca bombings in May 2003. Moroccan authorities had asked for his extradition from Britain, but as no extradition treaty exists between the two countries, he managed to remain in the UK.

Guerbouzi appeared on al Jazzera television on Saturday to declare his innocence and deny he is on the run. Spanish counterterrorism experts say there is strong evidence he is involved in 3/11 and believe he is involved in the London bombings as well. London police refuse to comment on reports they are "hunting" for Guerbouzi.

Middle East expert William Morris says that "The Iraq link is strengthened by the fact that the Egyptian Ambassador to Iraq was brutally murdered by his captors on 7/7 who issued a statement using much the same "crusader" language - though there are analysts who regard this as "malco-ordination" rather than deliberate."

Morris points out that the tagging on of threats against two innocuous countries (in this instance Italy and Denmark) is "a feature of al-Qaida operations - though this could point to a link between the operatives and these countries." Other analysts point to the likelihood that the suicide bomber(s) came from the West Midlands (suicide bombers are likely because of the co-ordinated timing - mobile phones do not work on the underground). The two translations of the second letter claiming responsibility are listed below. The differences relate to differences in translation.

According to Spiegel it said:

"Rejoice, community of Muslims. "The heroic mujahedeens today conducted an attack in London," adding all of Great Britain is now shaken and shocked, "in the north, the south, west and east." "We've warned the British government and the British people time and again," the letter adds. "We've kept our promise and have carried out a blessed military operation." "We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all other crusader governments. We demand that all countries pull their troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq," the letter states.

According to the BBC, the letter said:

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, may peace be upon the cheerful one and undaunted fighter, Prophet Muhammad, God's peace be upon him. Nation of Islam and Arab nation: Rejoice for it is time to take revenge against the British Zionist Crusader government in retaliation for the massacres Britain is committing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The heroic mujahideen have carried out a blessed raid in London. Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern, and western quarters. We have repeatedly warned the British Government and people. We have fulfilled our promise and carried out our blessed military raid in Britain after our mujahideen exerted strenuous efforts over a long period of time to ensure the success of the raid. We continue to warn the governments of Denmark and Italy and all the Crusader governments that they will be punished in the same way if they do not withdraw their troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. He who warns is excused. God says: "You who believe: If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly."

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