Al-Qaeda Blasts Tanker to Remind of Itself

A blast and fire at the French supertanker Limburg in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen on October 6 was a result of a terrorism attack likely committed by a Marine Jihad group closely connected with al-Qaeda. France and Yemen investigators found a large oval-shaped hole in the tanker’s boarding. Witnesses say, right before the blast they saw a small boat driven by suicide terrorists directly against the tanker which transported about 400,000 barrel of crude oil. Twelve people of a 25-member crew were wounded in the fire, a Bulgarian citizen is considered missing.

Right before the tragic September 11 anniversary, the US Navy command (Manama headquarters, Bahrain) warned all ship-owners of possible terrorism attacks on tankers. However, despite the warning the traffic volume didn’t reduce, as business was more important than fear.

Yesterday al-Qaeda voiced new threats toward the USA and its allies. Qatar television Al-Jazeera broadcast a tape with the voice of Ayman al-Zawahiri, who is said to be the finance aide to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

“America and its allies should know that their crimes will be revenged,” the tape says. “We recommend them to immediately leave Palestine, Arabian Peninsular, Afghanistan and all Muslim countries, otherwise they will lose everything.” Germany and France  were specially emphasized among the US allies. The tape also says, young Mujahideens  already sent several warnings to France and Germany; if they prove ineffective, more attacks would be committed.

The voice which is said to belong to Zawahiri says, the US campaign in Afghanistan “failed to succeed.” In a year after launching of the campaign in Afghanistan, the USA and its allies still can’t liquidate al-Qaeda and Taleban leaders. The tape also touches upon the Mideast problem. Ayman al-Zawahiri says that the USA plan to attack Iraq with a view “to destroy any power standing close to Israel.” Besides, it is mentioned that the USA “wants to split Saudi Arabia to seize its oil, and special attention is paid to Arabia’s eastern part.”

Dmitry Chirkin
PRAVDA.Ru